Club supports the facelift of the Hong Kong Arts Centre for the lovers of arts

22 January 2010

Established over thirty years ago, the Hong Kong Arts Centre has undergone a series of renovation and upgrading of facilities with some HK$15 million funding from The Hong Kong Jockey Club.   To celebrate the new look of the Centre, the exhibition areas from the ground to the third floor have been named the "Jockey Club Atrium".

Today (22 January), the Jockey Club Atrium was officially opened by the Club's Executive Director, Charities, Legal & Corporate Secretariat, Douglas So; the Government's Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs, Salina Yan; Chairman of the Building Committee of Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC), Nelson Leong; Executive Director of HKAC, Connie Lam; and other distinguished guests.

Mr So observed that the Club had long supported the HKAC since 1979 for various projects including the maintenance, renovation and upgrading of the centre's facilities so as to provide the public with a safe and comfortable environment for enjoying arts and cultural events.  "We believe the Jockey Club Atrium will serve as a platform to showcase the work of different artists as well as stimulate the public's interest in contemporary arts and culture," he said.

The inaugural exhibition being held in the Jockey Club Atrium is "Solargraphy @ Hong Kong" -featuring solargraphy images taken in Hong Kong and elsewhere by Finnish artist Tarja Trygg and local counterparts.  It runs from today to 22 February 2010.

The Club's latest donation has also covered the costs of lift modernisation, provision of barrier-free access, improvement of the drainage system and façade, and the renovation of five visitor toilets, which now showcase designs by six volunteer artists.

125th Anniversary of The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is celebrating its 125th Anniversary in 2009/10 season.  Over the past 125 years, it has become one of Hong Kong's best known and respected organisations, providing the public with world-class sporting entertainment as well as being the city's major non-Government community benefactor, now donating more than HK$1 billion a year to charitable and community projects.  It has been a part of Hong Kong through good times and bad, sharing the city's growth and development with its people, and is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for future generations.