The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) is delighted to announce today the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) to build a strategic platform for collaboration.
The MOU was signed by Mr Duncan Pescod, Chief Executive Officer, WKCDA and Professor Adrian Walter, Director, HKAPA. Witnessing the signing of the MOU were Mr Louis Yu, Executive Director, Performing Arts, WKCDA; Ms Alison Friedman, Artistic Director, Performing Arts, WKCDA; Mr Low Kee Hong, Head of Theatre, Performing Arts, WKCDA; Ms Naomi Chung, Head of Xiqu, Performing Arts, WKCDA; Dr Ken Wong, Head, Learning & Participation (Performing Arts), WKCDA; Ms Lisa Tsang, Head, Venue Operations (Performing Arts), WKCDA; Professor Philip Wong, Deputy Director (Administration), HKAPA; Mr Martin Lau, Dean of Chinese Opera, HKAPA; Ms Anna CY Chan, Dean of Dance, HKAPA; Professor Poon Wai Sum, Dean of Drama, HKAPA; Mr Geoffrey Stitt, Dean of Film and Television, HKAPA; Professor Sharon Choa, Dean of Music, HKAPA; and Professor Gillian Choa, Dean of Theatre and Entertainment Arts, HKAPA.
The MOU outlines the principles of cooperation, shared goals, and mode of monitoring the execution of joint initiatives. The MOU confirms central, top-management support for the development and implementation of collaborative projects by both organisations’ individual teams and departments.
Under the MOU, WKCDA and HKAPA will develop collaboration across a broad range of areas including performances, lectures and talks, workshops, seminars, co-productions, festivals, community engagement projects and professional development initiatives. These activities cover all forms of the performing arts, film and television, as well as production and technical arts.
In addition to collaborative projects, WKCDA and HKAPA will explore ways to share resources, including space sharing, both physical and creative, with the objective of exploring, experimenting, performing and creating. Both organisations will offer access to experts and specialists as well as networks of talented young artists to contribute.
Mr Duncan Pescod, Chief Executive Officer of WKCDA stressed the importance of the collaboration: “After many years of individual collaborative projects, we are pleased to officially recognise at the highest level our partnership with HKAPA. WKCDA is dedicated to capacity building for the local arts sector. This collaboration with HKAPA combines the strengths of both organisations and builds a valuable platform to share and exchange resources to nurture young talents and promote artistic creation and development.”
Professor Adrian Walter, Director of HKAPA welcomes the collaboration and said “The development of the West Kowloon Cultural District will do much to position Hong Kong as a major hub for the arts and creative practice in the region. HKAPA has been a long-term partner of WKCDA. The signing of a formal MOU today represents an important step forward in furthering this unique and productive association. Together with our Council Chairman, Professor Stephen Chow, I look forward to seeing the Academy and WKCDA continuing to build this important relationship and so contributing to the ongoing development of Hong Kong’s dynamic creative community.”
Photo 1: The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) is delighted to announce the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) to build a strategic platform for collaboration.
Photo 2: The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) is delighted to announce the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) to build a strategic platform for collaboration.
Photo 3: The MOU was signed by Mr Duncan Pescod, Chief Executive Officer, WKCDA (Front row, left) and Professor Adrian Walter, Director, HKAPA (Front row, right). (Back row, from left to right) Witnessing the signing of the MOU were Ms Lisa Tsang, Head, Venue Operations (Performing Arts), WKCDA; Professor Poon Wai Sum, Dean of Drama, HKAPA; Mr Martin Lau, Dean of Chinese Opera, HKAPA; Dr Ken Wong, Head, Learning & Participation (Performing Arts), WKCDA; Ms Naomi Chung, Head of Xiqu, Performing Arts, WKCDA; Ms Alison Friedman, Artistic Director, Performing Arts, WKCDA; Mr Low Kee Hong, Head of Theatre, Performing Arts, WKCDA; Mr Louis Yu, Executive Director, Performing Arts, WKCDA; Professor Philip Wong, Deputy Director (Administration), HKAPA; Professor Gillian Choa, Dean of Theatre and Entertainment Arts, HKAPA; Mr Geoffrey Stitt, Dean of Film and Television, HKAPA; Ms Anna CY Chan, Dean of Dance, HKAPA; Professor Sharon Choa, Dean of Music, HKAPA and Ms Pauline Chan, Head of Academic Collaboration, HKAPA.
West Kowloon Cultural District
Located on Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour, the West Kowloon Cultural District is one of the largest cultural projects in the world. Its vision is to create a vibrant new cultural quarter for Hong Kong. With a complex of theatres, performance spaces and museums, the West Kowloon Cultural District will produce and host world-class exhibitions, performances and cultural events, as well as provide 23 hectares of public open space, including a two-kilometre waterfront promenade.
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), established by Government Ordinance in 1984, is a leading tertiary institution in performing arts in Asia. It provides professional undergraduate education and practice-based postgraduate studies. The study encompasses Chinese Opera, Dance, Drama, Film and Television, Music, and Theatre and Entertainment Arts. Its educational philosophy reflects the cultural diversity of Hong Kong with emphasis on Chinese and Western traditions, and interdisciplinary learning.