Hong Kong’s performing arts industry leaders have expressed the need for more dedicated venues to support the city’s cultural development. According to them, the shortage of such spaces is one of the biggest challenges faced by the industry.
Mathias Woo Yan-wai, executive director of Zuni Icosahedron, a Hong Kong-based experimental theatre company, emphasized the importance of venues for the growth of performing arts groups. He pointed out that without proper venues, these groups cannot thrive. Woo also compared Hong Kong to cities like London and New York, which have a plethora of dedicated venues for performing arts.
The government recently released the “Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development”, which outlined 71 measures to boost the development of the arts and creative industries in Hong Kong. The document acknowledged the lack of venues as a weakness in the city’s arts and culture scene. It also mentioned that the government has been guided by the principle of catering to the overall needs of society and allocating resources fairly in managing these sites.
The shortage of dedicated venues has been a long-standing issue in Hong Kong’s arts and culture scene. The government’s blueprint is a step in the right direction, but industry leaders believe that more needs to be done to address this issue. With better policies and more dedicated venues, Hong Kong can truly compete with global cultural hubs like London and New York. This will not only benefit the performing arts industry but also contribute to the city’s overall cultural development.