https://www.scmp.com/rss/37613/feed The West Kowloon Cultural District refers to a development project that seeks to create a hub of arts and cultural venues in a 40-hectare area in Hong Kong. Its location and proximity to Victoria Harbour have sparked hopes it will attract visitors and boost interest in the arts and culture. Some critics, however, argue that its multi-billion-dollar cost is a drain on the community. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ambrose Li Ambrose Li The debut exhibition of the US’ Metropolitan Museum of Art in Hong Kong has underscored the importance of people-to-people ties and trust between countries through cultural exchanges during times of uncertainty, organisers have said. About 200 pieces of jewellery from 4,000 years of history across five continents are on display at the Hong Kong Palace Museum for six months, with the event coming at a politically sensitive time. US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are set to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350576/new-york-met-exhibit-hong-kong-underscores-importance-cultural-exchanges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350576/new-york-met-exhibit-hong-kong-underscores-importance-cultural-exchanges?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 01:00:16 +0000 Bernard Chan Bernard Chan March is a highlight of Hong Kong’s cultural calendar. Last month, as I welcomed delegates to the International Cultural Summit during Art Week, many told me they had come to network with local and international collaborators and explore Hong Kong’s museums, galleries and performance venues. Tens of thousands attended Art Basel, Art Central, gallery openings, performances and other events across the city. The month also buzzed with jazz, opera, classical concerts and other performances, with the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350293/art-march-hong-kong-firmly-global-cultural-map?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350293/art-march-hong-kong-firmly-global-cultural-map?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 01:30:10 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Mud and rainy weather caused chaos and frustration at a high-profile open-air coffee festival in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District over the Easter weekend, with the arts hub’s managing authority urging the organiser to take timely and appropriate measures to respond to vendors. The weather put a dampener on the four-day 2026 Coffee Hong Kong @WestK, which was held at the Great Lawn of the district’s Art Park. Some festival visitors were seen wearing shoe covers as they walked over the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349293/backlash-brews-hong-kong-coffee-festival-over-response-bad-weather?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349293/backlash-brews-hong-kong-coffee-festival-over-response-bad-weather?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:10:38 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong has swapped the Easter bunny for a festive feline, with giant cat installations and murals delighting visitors and residents citywide. A gigantic ginger cat has been greeting travellers at Hong Kong International Airport while three inflatable marmalade felines lie sprawled across a lawn at the West Kowloon Cultural District, delighting visitors to the arts hub. In Yau Ma Tei, local artist German Li and his students have reimagined Vincent van Gogh’s classic painting The Starry Night... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349088/move-over-easter-bunny-cats-are-stars-hong-kong-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349088/move-over-easter-bunny-cats-are-stars-hong-kong-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 10:44:22 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong begins a five-day long weekend break for the Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays on Friday, with authorities expecting busy inbound and outbound travel during the period. Mainland China marks the festival, also known as tomb-sweeping day, between Saturday and Monday. For Hongkongers remaining in the city and visitors from the mainland and elsewhere, the South China Morning Post lists key activities open to the public. Coffee festival The popular coffee festival returns to the West... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348841/looking-easter-holiday-inspiration-heres-whats-happening-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348841/looking-easter-holiday-inspiration-heres-whats-happening-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:03:18 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s month of celebrating art and culture is drawing to a close, but promises to end on a high. Art Basel, the prestigious international fair, opens on Friday and features 240 galleries from 41 countries and regions. It is the catalyst for a wide variety of other art events in March. The fair brings together artists, curators, galleries and other enthusiasts, fuelling the process of cultural exchange. A new five-year deal between the government and Art Basel is, therefore, a significant... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347990/hong-kongs-celebration-art-and-culture-sends-powerful-message?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347990/hong-kongs-celebration-art-and-culture-sends-powerful-message?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Betty Fung Betty Fung The power of arts and culture should not be underestimated. They educate, inform, inspire and bring joy. They open doors to discovery, unite communities and break down barriers between cultures and people. In a broader context, the arts help to define our cities, offering a point of focus for the community and an opportunity to develop a clear cultural identity. Hong Kong has been successful in defining itself as a financial centre, but culture can play as big a role as capital in determining... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347251/realise-hong-kongs-cultural-potential-global-vision-essential?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347251/realise-hong-kongs-cultural-potential-global-vision-essential?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong developer Sun Hung Kai Properties is betting big on arts and commercial projects at the West Kowloon Cultural District, banking on the city’s designated role as a cross-border asset and wealth management hub – even as the office rental market remains subdued. Sun Hung Kai Properties is positioning its projects to stand out within its 8 million sq ft portfolio of office and commercial space in West Kowloon, where it is also the sole developer in the arts hub building the Artist Square... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347505/hong-kong-developer-banks-arts-and-finance-synergy-west-kowloon-cultural-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347505/hong-kong-developer-banks-arts-and-finance-synergy-west-kowloon-cultural-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:30:20 +0000 Grace Brewer Grace Brewer This Friday is the spring equinox, and the weekend’s eating spans the full sweep of the season – from an ultrarefined tasting menu at Mosu Hong Kong, to lazy harbour-side brunches at Dedica and a long Italian dinner at LucAle’s bright new home in Sai Ying Pun. For more dining ideas, see the 2025 100 Top Tables Guide – and watch this space for the 2026 edition. Friday, March 20 Mosu Hong Kong head chef Bruno Jeong Jin-hwan is leaning into the first flush of spring at the Korean-led fine dining... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3346962/your-hong-kong-weekend-food-guide-march-20-22?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3346962/your-hong-kong-weekend-food-guide-march-20-22?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 04:30:08 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu In a world obsessed with aesthetic perfection, Harmonia asks a radical question: what happens to our understanding of beauty when we trade judgment for curiosity? Uniting a cast of performers including dancers with congenital limb differences, dwarfism and wheelchair needs, the experimental dance project by Unusual Symptoms – a company-in-residence at Germany’s Theatre Bremen – exhibits the vocabulary of unconventional movement. The project premiered in Germany in 2022 and won best work at the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3343970/inclusive-dance-team-unites-unconventional-performers-coming-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3343970/inclusive-dance-team-unites-unconventional-performers-coming-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 04:15:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Sustainability is as vital as creativity when it comes to fostering a world-class arts hub. With plans for a US$1 billion bond programme and a fresh HK$3 billion (US$383.9 million) 10-year loan facility, Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District Authority has eased its immediate cash flow pressures and averted cutbacks in cultural offerings. It is important that the financial breathing space be used not merely to survive, but to achieve its vision as a global brand rooted in the city’s... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344107/hong-kongs-west-kowloon-arts-hub-must-use-financial-reprieve-wisely?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344107/hong-kongs-west-kowloon-arts-hub-must-use-financial-reprieve-wisely?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung After a busy week of festivities, this weekend in Hong Kong offers plenty of ways to connect, recharge and unwind. Whether that be a night market with live music, a high-energy strength and mobility session, jazz mixed with dance performances or a laid-back evening of wine and wagging tails, there is something for every mood. Read on to find out more. 1. WestK Nightscapes The vibrant WestK Nightscapes continues its month-long run at the Art Park’s Harbourside East Lawn in West Kowloon, complete... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3343981/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-february-20-22?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3343981/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-february-20-22?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 02:46:22 +0000 Denise Tsang Denise Tsang The authority managing Hong Kong’s West Kowloon arts hub has averted a funding crisis after securing a longer-than-usual 10-year loan facility of HK$3 billion, which comes in addition to a US$1 billion (US$383.8 million) bond sale programme announced earlier. The financing would provide a much-needed lifeline to the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority in the coming decade before its residential property development could start to generate income, board chairman Bernard Chan said on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343531/hong-kongs-west-kowloon-arts-hub-secures-hk3-billion-10-year-loan-facility?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343531/hong-kongs-west-kowloon-arts-hub-secures-hk3-billion-10-year-loan-facility?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 12:56:20 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li The loss-making authority that manages Hong Kong’s West Kowloon arts hub will sell bonds for the first time, aimed at raising up to US$1 billion to fund its operations. According to documents submitted to Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing on Thursday, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority appointed the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) as arrangers for the medium-term note programme. This will mark the first time the authority, which manages... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343373/hong-kongs-west-kowloon-arts-hub-seeks-us1-billion-first-bond-sale-fund-operations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343373/hong-kongs-west-kowloon-arts-hub-seeks-us1-billion-first-bond-sale-fund-operations?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 15:17:42 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu At 80 years old, Margaret Leng Tan is a meticulous timekeeper – not just of days and years, but of the silent spaces between the notes she plays on her toy pianos. The Singapore-born, New York-based musician has left her mark on the history of 20th century avant-garde music. A classically trained pianist, she became the first woman to obtain a doctoral degree in music from New York’s Juilliard School, in 1971, a decade after winning a scholarship there. Later, she became a key interpreter of the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3340389/singaporean-musician-living-ocd-uses-toy-pianos-and-cat-food-tins-tell-her-story?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3340389/singaporean-musician-living-ocd-uses-toy-pianos-and-cat-food-tins-tell-her-story?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 09:15:07 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s first large-scale balloon float parade, featuring beloved icons such as SpongeBob SquarePants and the city’s baby panda cubs, attracted hundreds, including young children, to the West Kowloon Cultural District on Sunday. Families lined the paths of the West Kowloon Art Park as the parade of 16 giant helium balloons made a loop between the Hong Kong Palace Museum and contemporary art museum M+, accompanied by a youth marching band. The event brought together characters from popular... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339499/spongebob-peppa-pig-and-panda-cubs-head-hong-kong-arts-hub-balloon-parade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339499/spongebob-peppa-pig-and-panda-cubs-head-hong-kong-arts-hub-balloon-parade?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 10:42:17 +0000 Oscar Liu,Edith Lin,Harvey Kong Oscar Liu,Edith Lin,Harvey Kong Thousands of revellers packed into Central in Hong Kong at night to celebrate Christmas on Thursday, after many visited the city’s premier arts hub for picnicking and photo-taking. Locals and tourists alike were out in full force along Chater Road, many donning whimsical Christmas outfits and transforming the thoroughfare into a sea of festive cheer. The road turned pedestrian zone hosted a series of seasonal installations. Most striking was a colossal, spaceship-inspired Christmas light... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3337706/hundreds-flock-opening-hong-kong-food-festival-christmas-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3337706/hundreds-flock-opening-hong-kong-food-festival-christmas-day?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Dec 2025 08:15:55 +0000 Enid Tsui Enid Tsui The Sigg Prize 2025 has been awarded jointly to Hong Kong animator Wong Ping and Macau-raised artist Heidi Lau, marking the first time the contemporary art prize has been shared between two artists since it was first awarded in 2019. The announcement was made on December 16 by M+, the museum in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District that organises the biennial competition named after the collector Uli Sigg. “We were deeply impressed by the works presented and decided to award two winners in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3337062/hong-kongs-sigg-prize-shared-first-time-m-boss-praises-2-bold-artists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3337062/hong-kongs-sigg-prize-shared-first-time-m-boss-praises-2-bold-artists?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 04:12:27 +0000 Gavin Yeung Gavin Yeung Discover this Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum The Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum has finally reopened after months of renovation. To mark its return – and the 100th anniversary of Dr Sun’s death – a new and free exhibition is on display. “From Healing Patients to Saving a Nation” runs until March 2026, showcasing over 60 artefacts and photos connecting the statesman to Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangdong. Admission is free, offering a fresh reason to finally step inside the historic Kom Tong Hall. Kom Tong Hall, 7... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3336230/best-things-do-hong-kong-december-20-26?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3336230/best-things-do-hong-kong-december-20-26?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 02:00:10 +0000 Denise Tsang Denise Tsang A display of hundreds of ancient Egyptian artefacts will be the Hong Kong Palace Museum’s most profitable exhibition yet, the institution has said, while also revealing that nine other shows are in the pipeline for next year. Director Louis Ng Chi-wa said on Thursday about 76,000 people had visited “Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums” in the first four weeks of its run. “We expected it would be popular, but it is even more popular in terms of both visitor numbers and demand... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3336955/hong-kong-palace-museum-says-egyptian-exhibition-will-be-most-profitable-show-yet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3336955/hong-kong-palace-museum-says-egyptian-exhibition-will-be-most-profitable-show-yet?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 12:11:46 +0000 Dennis Lee Dennis Lee I often wonder whether my architectural career peaked in 2006 – not because I had already accomplished a lot or designed my masterpiece – but because that was the year I resigned from Gehry Partners. As exciting as it was to return to Hong Kong, I left the world’s most famous architectural practice wondering if I would ever collaborate on projects as high-profile, emotionally striking and complicated as those I had worked on in my five formative years there. Considered by some the original... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3335809/frank-gehrys-vision-hong-kongs-arts-hub-was-opportunity-lost?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3335809/frank-gehrys-vision-hong-kongs-arts-hub-was-opportunity-lost?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 01:30:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial A display of ancient Egyptian treasures in Hong Kong got such a warm welcome last week that crowds overwhelmed the venue. It is good that steps were quickly taken to control the chaos, but organisers must carefully study what happened to avoid putting up any obstacles to the city evolving as a centre of cultural exchange. The Hong Kong Palace Museum suspended walk-in ticket sales for the “Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums” exhibition at 11am on Sunday. The day before, many... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3334172/visitors-deserve-enjoy-egyptian-heritage-display-free-chaos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3334172/visitors-deserve-enjoy-egyptian-heritage-display-free-chaos?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 23:15:13 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Eat this Mandarin Grill + Bar The Mandarin Oriental’s long-standing steakhouse welcomes new head chef Junior Nadje, who has cooked at some of France’s most prestigious kitchens including Alléno Paris, La Mère Brazier and La Chèvre d’Or. Get to know his grill-centric culinary style with the four-course Discovery Menu, featuring dishes such as grilled mullet with shiso purée and tarragon-infused grilled chicken. 1/F, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, 5 Connaught Road Central Drink... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3332783/best-things-do-hong-kong-week-november-16-22?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3332783/best-things-do-hong-kong-week-november-16-22?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 02:00:12 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung The cooler temperatures make for the perfect time to explore Hong Kong’s vibrant outdoor events across the city. Whether it is a rooftop beer festival, a tournament for a cause, a doggy wonderland or a live street art showcase, there is every way to enjoy the weather this weekend. Read on to find out more. 1. Tong Chong Street Market Beer Festival View this post on Instagram A post shared by mhp by Tong Chong Street Market (@tcsmarkethk) This Saturday is the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3332723/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-november-14-16?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3332723/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-november-14-16?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 02:45:09 +0000 Gavin Yeung Gavin Yeung Tides Concertgoers rejoice: Tides, Hong Kong’s first purpose-built mid-sized music venue, is now open. Operated by Live Nation, the 1,500-person venue inside Whampoa’s famed ship-shaped shopping centre was designed to fill a gap for plug-and-play facilities and is packed to the gills with built-in 360-degree sound, lighting and stage technology. With a handful of shows already under its belt, the next act to take to the stage is multi-platinum streaming sensation bbno$, on November 13. Tickets... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3331930/hong-kong-new-openings-music-venue-tides-west-kowloon-pet-park?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3331930/hong-kong-new-openings-music-venue-tides-west-kowloon-pet-park?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 01:00:10 +0000 Gavin Yeung Gavin Yeung Before the art world went global, there was American artist Robert Rauschenberg. The titan of 20th-century art spent decades looking East. Now, M+ is staging the first major exhibition dedicated to his travels across Asia, showing how formative the continent was for one of art’s experimental greats. Opening on November 22 and continuing until April 26, 2026, “Robert Rauschenberg and Asia” offers a fresh, multidisciplinary exploration of an artist we thought we knew or may have taken for... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3331791/robert-rauschenbergs-asian-travels-and-influences-display-m-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3331791/robert-rauschenbergs-asian-travels-and-influences-display-m-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 05:00:09 +0000 Ken Chu Ken Chu Recent discussions on the financial sustainability of the West Kowloon Cultural District have raised broader questions about the direction of cultural development in Hong Kong. While flagship institutions play an important role in shaping the city’s international profile, they are only one part of the wider cultural landscape. Across Hong Kong, smaller community-based venues have been steadily gaining momentum. These spaces are making culture part of everyday life and contributing to a more... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3331642/hong-kongs-small-cultural-venues-can-pack-big-punch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3331642/hong-kongs-small-cultural-venues-can-pack-big-punch?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Nov 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin Hong Kong will bring together 20 popular characters, such as SpongeBob, Garfield and the M&M’s mascots, for Asia’s largest IP-themed carnival, with highlights including a balloon parade and a citywide e-stamp collection. The organiser of Merry Balloon Hong Kong, the first ever cross-IP character winter celebration, announced on Wednesday that the month-long event would launch on November 24, aiming to attract at least 100,000 visitors and participants. “This is a brand new, large-scale event in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3331615/spongebob-garfield-among-20-characters-joining-hong-kongs-ip-carnival?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3331615/spongebob-garfield-among-20-characters-joining-hong-kongs-ip-carnival?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Nov 2025 08:30:04 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Visual artist Nadim Abbas and Chan Wai-lok, a choreographer and dancer, are keeping their cards close to their chests about their coming performance. “We don’t want to spoil too much ahead of the show,” said Abbas when the Post visited them after a rehearsal. They did allow a glimpse of the intriguing set: part domestic interior, part logistics warehouse. Their cross-disciplinary collaboration is called “No Time To Die: An Inert Liquid Assembly”, and it comprises an exhibition and a series of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3331306/architecture-meets-movement-coming-performances-hong-kong-freespace-dance-festival?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3331306/architecture-meets-movement-coming-performances-hong-kong-freespace-dance-festival?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Nov 2025 23:15:09 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li The new head of Hong Kong’s M+ museum has pledged to strengthen cultural exchanges between China and the world while enhancing the city’s global appeal. The remarks from Paulo Pong Kin-yee, who is also board chairman of Ocean Park, on Wednesday aligned with the central government’s 14th five-year plan, which states that Hong Kong should become an East-meets-West centre for global cultural exchange. His appointment as the museum’s board chairman, which took effect on October 9, was announced by... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3330732/new-m-head-vows-boost-china-world-cultural-ties-make-hong-kong-global-arts-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3330732/new-m-head-vows-boost-china-world-cultural-ties-make-hong-kong-global-arts-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Oct 2025 05:38:45 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin The Hong Kong Palace Museum has said that it will maintain “the highest international standards of security” and “best storage conditions” ahead of hosting the city’s largest and longest-running exhibition of ancient Egyptian treasures. The museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District on Tuesday unveiled three Egyptian statues, including one weighing 1.8 tonnes, which will open to the public from Wednesday as a prelude to a special exhibition about ancient Egypt. Tickets went on sale last... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3330671/highest-security-standards-hong-kong-palace-museum-ancient-egypt-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3330671/highest-security-standards-hong-kong-palace-museum-ancient-egypt-show?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Oct 2025 14:02:45 +0000 Enid Tsui Enid Tsui Under intense political scrutiny, the real drama in Hong Kong’s arts scene often happens not on the stage, but in the offstage machinations of censorship. The planned rerun of Candace Chong Mui-ngam’s Cantonese play, We Are Gay – poignantly titled “We are the Happiest” in Chinese – has gone from defiant revival to seemingly insurmountable defeat within days. In mid-August, a November rerun of the award-winning play was announced, and advance booking began for the shows that would be performed at... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3329652/controversial-playwright-speaks-out-after-cancellation-gay-themed-play-starring-antony-wong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3329652/controversial-playwright-speaks-out-after-cancellation-gay-themed-play-starring-antony-wong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 23:15:11 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Don’t miss Hong Kong Design Institute “Recreated Classics: The Music Golden Age in Sound and Frame”, an exhibition organised by the Hong Kong Design Institute, celebrates Hong Kong’s vibrant pop music heritage from the 1980s to the 2000s. Through rare album cover photography, the show pays tribute to a transformative era in the city’s music history, enriched by Bang & Olufsen’s century-long legacy of sound artistry. Until November 12. HKDI Experience Centre, Room C002, Hong Kong Design... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3329399/best-things-do-hong-kong-october-19-25?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3329399/best-things-do-hong-kong-october-19-25?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 22:15:07 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Beijing’s world-renowned Palace Museum celebrates its centenary this month. In the first of a three-part series to mark the anniversary, Ambrose Li examines how the West Kowloon Cultural District, home to the Hong Kong Palace Museum, can tackle the thorny issue of funding. When Bernard Chan recently took over as the new chairman of the body managing Hong Kong’s premier arts hub, he made his top priority clear: to ensure its cultural facilities were financially sustainable in the long run. It was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3328160/can-hong-kong-cash-culture-so-arts-hub-museums-pay-themselves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3328160/can-hong-kong-cash-culture-so-arts-hub-museums-pay-themselves?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 00:30:13 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak Much of art history has been dominated by men, and many of the contributions of women have been marginalised or erased. However, thanks to the profound influence of thinkers such as Linda Nochlin, who penned the classic 1971 essay “Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?”, art historians and curators have begun to balance the historical picture. “Dream Rooms: Environments by Women Artists 1950s-Now”, a major exhibition currently showing at Hong Kong’s M+ museum, is one such effort. It... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3327745/hong-kongs-m-champions-women-artists-300lbs-feathers-womblike-art-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3327745/hong-kongs-m-champions-women-artists-300lbs-feathers-womblike-art-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Oct 2025 08:15:07 +0000 Enid Tsui Enid Tsui The art market downturn continued to play out at Christie’s, Phillips and Sotheby’s regional headquarters in Hong Kong this past weekend, with the turnover from back-to-back art auctions loitering at an eight-year low. But a handful of records and some last-minute withdrawals – which improved the success ratio of the sales – helped inject long-missing vigour into the sales room during the seasonal marquee modern and contemporary art evening sales, which saw around 100 high-value artworks go... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3327393/hong-kong-autumn-2025-art-auctions-see-lowest-combined-turnover-8-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3327393/hong-kong-autumn-2025-art-auctions-see-lowest-combined-turnover-8-years?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Oct 2025 08:15:08 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin The Hong Kong Palace Museum will showcase 100 pieces of textiles highlighting Chinese silk culture, the first major exhibition of its kind in the city in recent years. The exhibition, “A History of China in Silk: The Chris Hall Collection at the Hong Kong Palace Museum”, is part of a nearly 3,000-piece collection from Hong Kong-based collector Chris Hall and will run from National Day on Wednesday to April 6 next year. It is one of the world’s most comprehensive and important collections of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3327278/hong-kong-palace-museum-feature-100-textiles-celebrating-chinese-silk-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3327278/hong-kong-palace-museum-feature-100-textiles-celebrating-chinese-silk-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 13:59:46 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Public museums in Hong Kong are probably no match for New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in terms of treasures and appeal. But that does not deter the government from pursuing the tall order of opening up some of its venues to commercial or private events in the same vein as the annual Met Gala, a glamorous haute couture fundraising festival, and rightly so. The initiative is part of a package put forward by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau in the latest policy address, along with new... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3326961/hong-kongs-tourism-goals-show-citys-commitment-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3326961/hong-kongs-tourism-goals-show-citys-commitment-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Sep 2025 23:15:12 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong The latest edition of Hong Kong’s largest annual LGBTQ carnival will be held online after organisers were unable to secure a venue at the West Kowloon Cultural District. In a social media post on Saturday, organisers of Pink Dot HK 2025 said that this year’s event would be held as an online concert, with Cantopop stars Marife Yau Yin-tung, also known as Marf, from girl group Collar and On Chan as its ambassadors. “There may still be a storm, but our original intention remains. Love will forever... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3327118/hong-kongs-pink-dot-hold-online-concert-after-bid-hire-art-park-declined?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3327118/hong-kongs-pink-dot-hold-online-concert-after-bid-hire-art-park-declined?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Sep 2025 16:13:22 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin Hong Kong authorities have started to prepare for a wave of travel during the National Day holiday next week when nearly 8.8 million trips are expected to be made across the city’s borders, an increase of more than 20 per cent over last year’s figure, and the city stages a massive fireworks display. Industry experts have predicted that 1.5 million mainland Chinese tourists will visit the city over the “golden week” break, 10 per cent more than last year, with the celebration coinciding with the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3326987/national-day-hong-kong-some-roads-close-290000-expected-fireworks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3326987/national-day-hong-kong-some-roads-close-290000-expected-fireworks?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Sep 2025 09:00:28 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Bernard Chan, vice-chairman of the board that manages Hong Kong’s arts district in West Kowloon, will succeed Henry Tang Ying-yen as chairman on October 1. Chan has pledged to boost revenue and reduce the hub’s deficit by making more of its operations commercially viable. The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority announced on Tuesday that Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu had appointed Chan as the board’s chairman for a two-year term, as Tang’s tenure had been renewed three times... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326523/bernard-chan-succeed-henry-tang-chairman-hong-kongs-west-kowloon-arts-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326523/bernard-chan-succeed-henry-tang-chairman-hong-kongs-west-kowloon-arts-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Sep 2025 08:00:13 +0000 Ken Ip Ken Ip Is Hong Kong’s most ambitious cultural project becoming its most expensive liability? More than a decade and nearly HK$50 billion (US$6.4 billion) later, the West Kowloon Cultural District finds itself in a precarious position. The government’s flagship arts and culture hub, which was meant to catapult the city into the ranks of global cultural capitals, now risks being remembered less for its creative breakthroughs than for its governance and financial headaches. The numbers alone tell a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3325028/time-hong-kongs-us64-billion-cultural-gamble-pay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3325028/time-hong-kongs-us64-billion-cultural-gamble-pay?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2025 01:30:07 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong University students from mainland China and overseas will be among the 6,000 riders invited to join Hong Kong’s annual Cyclothon, which is returning in November. “The Hong Kong Cyclothon is a prime example of our city’s growing importance on the global sports stage,” Tourism Board chairman Peter Lam Kin-ngok said on Friday. “It offers a unique cycling experience that showcases our ability to blend sport with tourism.” Registration for the Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong Cyclothon will open on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3325368/overseas-university-students-be-among-6000-riders-hong-kongs-cyclothon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3325368/overseas-university-students-be-among-6000-riders-hong-kongs-cyclothon?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Sep 2025 10:49:49 +0000 Gavin Yeung Gavin Yeung M+ is set to transport visitors into the worlds of visionaries with “Dream Rooms: Environments by Women Artists 1950s-Now”. Running from September 20 to January 18, the exhibition casts visitors into a dozen multisensory environments crafted by women trailblazers from Asia, Europe and the Americas, spanning more than seven decades of contemporary art. Starting at the advent of installation art in the 1950s and 60s, the works invite visitors to engage the body as much as the mind. Often... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3325206/m-hong-kong-rebuilt-9-installations-spanning-over-7-decades-women-artists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3325206/m-hong-kong-rebuilt-9-installations-spanning-over-7-decades-women-artists?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Sep 2025 10:15:14 +0000 Ambrose Li,Olga Wong Ambrose Li,Olga Wong Hong Kong’s leader aims to elevate the city into a “world-class high-end art trading hub” to rival New York under measures to be revealed in his fourth policy address next Wednesday, the Post has learned. Efforts to strengthen the city’s multibillion-dollar art trading industry would include boosting services in financing, insurance and professional training, and designating maintenance and storage spaces in a cultural hub and near the airport, a government source said. The move will align with... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3325252/hong-kong-aiming-become-top-art-trading-hub-rival-new-york-source?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3325252/hong-kong-aiming-become-top-art-trading-hub-rival-new-york-source?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Sep 2025 02:30:09 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong A new arts and performing hub in Hong Kong’s east Kowloon, set to fully debut in November, is being positioned as a leading venue for long-term theatrical runs similar to London’s West End and New York’s Broadway, a government official has said. Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Manda Chan Wing-man said on Thursday that the East Kowloon Cultural Centre would be a hub for art, technology and long-running productions, and hoped that people would associate the area with such... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3325218/new-arts-hub-hong-kongs-east-kowloon-positioned-be-citys-broadway-official?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3325218/new-arts-hub-hong-kongs-east-kowloon-positioned-be-citys-broadway-official?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 11:01:52 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Income from performing arts spaces in Hong Kong’s premier cultural hub could improve with the opening of a new 2,320-seat theatre complex next year, the head of the area’s managing body has said, following last year’s financial woes. A paper submitted to the Legislative Council revealed that the cost recovery rate for the West Kowloon Cultural District’s performing arts division stood at 30 per cent for the financial year ending on March 31, lower than the 44 per cent rate for the contemporary... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3324788/theatre-complex-launch-could-boost-performing-arts-income-says-hong-kong-cultural-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3324788/theatre-complex-launch-could-boost-performing-arts-income-says-hong-kong-cultural-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Sep 2025 13:38:03 +0000 Manica Tiglao Manica Tiglao This 750 sq ft West Kowloon flat is a masterclass in adaptable design. Slide back a wall in the living room and the area nearly doubles in size; slide it forward and a comfortable guest bedroom appears. The seamless transformation is proof that good design is as much about versatility as it is about style. To reimagine their home, owner Ben Chao, who works in media, and his partner, who is in banking, enlisted Norman Ung Wai-lun, co-founder of design studios Design Eight Five Two (Deft) and... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/design-interiors/article/3324717/flexible-hong-kong-flat-can-be-transformed-suit-its-owners-needs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/design-interiors/article/3324717/flexible-hong-kong-flat-can-be-transformed-suit-its-owners-needs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Sep 2025 10:15:08 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters It is that time of the week to switch off from work and switch on for some fun – and we have some ideas to make sure you get the best of what the city has to offer. Contemporary art lovers can head to M+ this weekend to check out the works of six artists shortlisted for the Sigg Prize, a biennial award recognising important artistic practices in Greater China. Yogis looking to (quite literally) elevate their practice can join an aerial yoga class at The Practice Studio. If retail therapy is more... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3324408/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-september-5-7?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3324408/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-september-5-7?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Sep 2025 02:55:04 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong The managing authority for Hong Kong’s arts hub is contending with deepening financial woes and weakened local spending, with its revenue in the 2024-25 financial year contracting by 18 per cent and its operating deficit ballooning to HK$769 million (US$98.5 million). According to a legislative paper released on Wednesday, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority’s revenue for the 12-month period ending in March was HK$871 million, an 18 per cent decline from the previous year. The report,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3324231/financial-woes-hong-kongs-west-kowloon-arts-hub-deepen-amid-weak-spending?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3324231/financial-woes-hong-kongs-west-kowloon-arts-hub-deepen-amid-weak-spending?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Sep 2025 13:23:56 +0000