Club's long-standing Arts Festival support helps bring world class performances to Hong Kong

25 February 2010

Supported by a donation from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the 38th Hong Kong Arts Festival 2010 - one of the major annual arts events in the Asia Pacific Region - was officially opened today (25 February) by The Hon Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, Club Steward Anthony W K Chow and other distinguished guests.  From now until 28 March, the 32-day festival will delight residents and visitors with almost 180 top-class performances and events at 37 different venues, presented by 41 local and international arts groups.

The Club has supported the Hong Kong Arts Festival every year since 1974, aiming to enrich the cultural experiences of local audiences and foster the public's appreciation of arts and culture.  To assist the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society (AFS) in planning ahead and securing the participation of leading world-class artists and ensembles, The Trust introduced a new funding mode in 2008 whereby funds are approved three years in advance.  This arrangement provides an average of HK$7 million each year for the AFS to bring in three main pillar programmes for each year's Festival.  One performance of each of these three programmes is designated "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series".

This year's "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series" includes Cantonese Opera Treasures by the Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong on 26 February; a music performance by the famous London-based Philharmonia Orchestra on 19 March; and Don Quixote danced by The Mariinsky Ballet on 22 March.

To encourage local students to enjoy top class arts performance, the Club has made a further donation to fund a complimentary student matinee performance for one of the pillar programmes.  Some 1,600 students will benefit this year by enjoying a special performance of Don Quixote on 21 March.  AFS will also organise pre-performance briefing sessions for the students to give them basic knowledge of ballet technique, theatre etiquette, and more understanding of the story of Don Quixote and the performing group involved.

Over the years, the Club has made a strong commitment to the development of local arts and culture, having funded the establishment of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) and the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre (JCCAC), as well as the renovation of Hong Kong Arts Centre.  It has also launched the Jockey Club Performing Arts Venue Subsidy Scheme and an outreach project, "Behind the Scenes" with HKAPA.  In addition, the Club has funded various projects to encourage people with disabilities to participate in arts and cultural programmes, such as the Jockey Club Arts for the Disabled Scheme and the creation of an Inclusive Arts Studio at JCCAC.

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.