As the major partner of Le French May 2012, the 20th edition of this popular event, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust is proud to support four exciting programmes this year. Today (28 March), Club Steward Anthony Chow, Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Raymond Young, Consulate-General of France in Hong Kong and Macau Arnaud Barthelemy and Chairman of the Board of the Directors of Le French May 2012 Dr Andrew Yuen unveiled details of the programmes at the organiser’s press conference.
Mr Chow commended the Consulate-General of France in Hong Kong and Macau and the Association Culturelle France-Hong Kong for organising such a rich and colourful cultural exchange for the Hong Kong community over the past two decades.
“The Club is very honoured to be the major partner of Le French May 2012,” Mr Chow noted. “For this year, the star will be the Picasso Exhibition. The Club’s donation is giving this exciting event further meaning with a Picasso educational programme. We are equally delighted to be supporting the horse-themed performance Le Centaure et l'Animal, particularly logistically, as we are quite good in running the horse business in Hong Kong.”
The Picasso Exhibition will be the largest-ever in the city, showcasing 48 oil paintings and seven sculptures by the late artist. The artworks will be displayed in the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin from 19 May to 22 July, and are expected to attract over 500,000 visitors.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Picasso educational programme is expected to benefit over 2,000 senior secondary students through in-depth docent tours, which will inspire the younger generation to greater appreciation of works of excellence.
The Le Centaure et l'Animal will be shown at Kwai Tsing Theatre in mid May, with the Club providing financial and technical support for the setting up of stables, veterinary care of horses during rehearsals and shows, and transport arrangements. For more information, please visit: www.frenchmay.com
In addition, Bizet’s imoortal Carmen, to be performed by Opera Hong Kong and internationally-renowned artists, provides an excellent platform for showcasing the results of the Club-funded Jockey Club Choral Training Programme. The Opera will be showcased at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre from 10 to 13 May.
The Club will also organise a special French-themed night of racing and entertainment at Happy Valley on 9 May, including the France Galop and Le French May Trophy races.
The Club’s strong commitment to nurturing the city’s cultural development is reflected in its many donations to arts and cultural projects since 1960, which include funding the establishment of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and supporting the Hong Kong Arts Festival since its inception 40 years ago. In the past ten years alone, the Club’s Charities Trust has donated some HK$1.55 billion for the promotion and development of arts and culture in Hong Kong, covering both hardware and software projects.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is not only one of the world's leading horse racing organisations but also a world top 15 charitable organisation and Hong Kong’s largest community contributor, donating HK$1.6 billion in 2011. It is also a major taxpayer, Hong Kong's single largest by far, generating over HK$15 billion a year for public funds. The Club pioneers technology applications for sporting and betting entertainment, striving for the highest levels of customer service. As a membership club, it is recognised as one of Asia’s most prestigious, with more than 23,000 members. These multifaceted roles make it a well-respected and remarkable organisation, dedicated to its mission of enhancing the quality of life for all Hong Kong people.
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Club Steward Anthony Chow (2nd right), Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Raymond Young (2nd left), Consulate-General of France in Hong Kong and Macau Arnaud Barthelemy (3rd left), Chairman of the Board of the Directors of Le French May 2012 Dr Andrew Yuen (1st right) and Vice President of Foundation Alliance FranAĦħaise Wendy Siu (1st left) unveil details of the programmes at the Le French May 2012 press conference.
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Club Steward Anthony Chow (2nd right), Consulate-General of France in Hong Kong and Macau Arnaud Barthelemy (2nd left) and spouse (1st left) and Vice President of Foundation Alliance FranAĦħaise Wendy Siu (1st right).
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Club Steward Anthony Chow (2nd right), Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Raymond Young (3rd right), Consulate-General of France in Hong Kong and Macau Arnaud Barthelemy (4th right) and spouse (2nd left), the Cluba£á?s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (1st right), Chairman of the Board of the Directors of Le French May 2012 Dr Andrew Yuen (1st left) and Board Member Michelle Ong-Cheung (4th left).
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