Corporate News

Jockey Club sponsorship of Arts Festival includes opening performance for the first time

02/27/2015

The Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF) opened today (27 February) with The Hong Kong Jockey Club extending its support for the 43rd year. The Club’s Charities Trust funding covers the opening performance and several other leading productions, as well as various educational programmes and free tickets for 3,200 students.
 
Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip joined HKSAR Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, Under Secretary for Home Affairs Florence Hui, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Michelle Li, Hong Kong Arts Festival Chairman Ronald Arculli and Executive Director Tisa Ho at the opening ceremony of the HKAF 2015, which features some 140 performance and arts-related events presented by top local and international performing groups until 29 March.

As a long-term partner of the HKAF, the Trust’s donations have enabled the HKAF to bring in three main pillar programmes under The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series since 2008, comprising a renowned theatre production, a dance performance and an orchestra.

The well-established Series for the first time sponsored the Festival Opening performance, Christian Thielemann & the Staatskapelle Dresden, and will feature an exclusive Asian premiere, The Tsar’s Bride performed by The Bolshoi Opera, and The Flames of Paris performed by The Bolshoi Ballet.

Among the Club’s presentations will be the first Jockey Club Local Creative Talents Series, a new special local production project to support local artists.  Datong – The Chinese Utopia, the first programme under this Series, is an original chamber opera produced and performed by local talent.  It will be augmented by outreach activities including an exhibition, talks, sharing sessions and backstage tours that are expected to attract over 150,000 participants.

To encourage local students to enjoy top class artistic performances, the Trust also funds two complimentary student matinees, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Student Matinee Programme: Cinderella. Over 3,200 students will be able to enjoy free special performances on 13 and 14 March.  Prior to the performances, the students will be introduced to ballet technique and theatre etiquette in special study sessions at their schools, so as to enhance their appreciation of the programmes.  As in previous years, the Club is also funding a transport subsidy scheme to help students from low-income families or those living in remote districts to enjoy the programmes.

Another sponsored programme is The Hong Kong Jockey Club Contemporary Dance Series which promotes local talent by featuring twelve young choreographers and their innovative dance works, set to music by local composers.  This is supplemented by education programmes and outreach activities to allow students to learn more about contemporary dance. More details are available at https://www.hk.artsfestival.org/en/index.html

Apart from supporting the Arts Festival, the Trust partners the Leisure and Cultural Services Department through The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series to bring world-class exhibitions to the city every year. Currently running are Treasures from Tsarskoye Selo, Residence of the Russian Monarchs in the Hong Kong Museum of History, and Dunhuang: Untold Tales, Untold Riches in the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, both of which will be open until 16 March.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class horse racing operator and Hong Kong’s largest community benefactor, as well as one of Asia’s most prestigious membership clubs. Operating as a not-for-profit organisation, the Club allocates its surplus funds for charitable and community projects. In 2013/14, its donations reached a record $3.6 billion, and in the last decade alone it supported over 1,275 projects. The Club is also Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer, contributing a record HK$19.58 billion in 2013/14. With about 70% of its revenue given back to society every year through donations and tax contributions, The Hong Kong Jockey Club delivers a significantly higher return to the community than any other racing and/or sports betting organisation in the world. As a socially responsible organisation, the Club helps Government combat illegal betting and advocates responsible gambling. The Club is also one of Hong Kong’s largest employers with over 24,800 full-time and part-time staff. Committed to global excellence and giving back to society, the Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong. Please visit 130.hkjc.com.

Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip (front row, 2nd left), HKSAR Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying (front row, 3rd left), Under Secretary for Home Affairs Florence Hui (front row, 2nd right), Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Michelle Li (front row, 1st left), Hong Kong Arts Festival Chairman Ronald Arculli (front row, 3rd right) and Executive Director Tisa Ho (front row, 1st right) perform the opening ceremony of the HKAF 2015.
Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip (front row, 2nd left), HKSAR Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying (front row, 3rd left), Under Secretary for Home Affairs Florence Hui (front row, 2nd right), Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Michelle Li (front row, 1st left), Hong Kong Arts Festival Chairman Ronald Arculli (front row, 3rd right) and Executive Director Tisa Ho (front row, 1st right) perform the opening ceremony of the HKAF 2015.

Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip and Mrs Ip (1st left and 3rd left), Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow (1st right), Steward The Hon Martin Liao (2nd right), Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and Mrs Engelbrecht-Bresges (3rd right and centre) and Under Secretary for Home Affairs Florence Hui (2nd left).
Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip and Mrs Ip (1st left and 3rd left), Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow (1st right), Steward The Hon Martin Liao (2nd right), Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and Mrs Engelbrecht-Bresges (3rd right and centre) and Under Secretary for Home Affairs Florence Hui (2nd left).

Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip (left) and Convenor of the Non-Official Members of the Executive Council The Hon Lam Woon-kwong (right).
Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip (left) and Convenor of the Non-Official Members of the Executive Council The Hon Lam Woon-kwong (right).

Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip (2nd right), Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow (1st left), Steward The Hon Martin Liao (1st right) and Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Michelle Li (2nd left).
Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip (2nd right), Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow (1st left), Steward The Hon Martin Liao (1st right) and Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Michelle Li (2nd left).

Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow (1st right) and Steward Margaret Leung and Mr Leung (2nd left and 1st left).
Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow (1st right) and Steward Margaret Leung and Mr Leung (2nd left and 1st left).

Other Corporate News