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Jockey Club continues support for Arts Festival to bring world-class performances to Hong Kong

10/13/2014

The forthcoming 43rd Hong Kong Arts Festival 2015 (HKAF) will be staged in coming February and March which the details of performances and art-related events, including those funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, were announced today (13 October).  The Club's Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung attended the press conference with Hong Kong Arts Festival Chairman Ronald Arculli, Executive Director Tisa Ho, and Programme Director Grace Lang.

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.  With the complement of outreach activities including an exhibition, talks, sharing sessions and backstage tours, it is expected to attract over 150,000 people.

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

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 15 March.  Prior to the performances, the students will be briefed on ballet technique and theatre etiquette, so as to enhance their appreciation of the programmes.  Similar to previous years, the Club has also funded 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 seven young choreographers and their innovative dance works, set to music by local composers.  Moreover, the Club supports education programmes and outreach activities to allow students to learn more about contemporary dance. More details are available at www.hk.artsfestival.org.

Apart from supporting the Arts Festival, the Trust partners the Leisure and Cultural Services Department through The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series to bring two to three world-class exhibitions to the cityevery year. Upcoming ones include the Treasures from Tsarskoye Selo, Residence of the Russian Monarchs to be held in the Hong Kong Museum of History starting from 29 October, and the Dunhuang: Untold Tales, Untold Riches to be held in the Hong Kong Heritage Museum starting from 28 November.

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 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.

The Club's Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung (1st right), Hong Kong Arts Festival Chairman Ronald Arculli (2nd right) with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Contemporary Dance Series dancers Tracy Wong (1st left) and Rebecca Wong (2nd left).
The Club's Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung (1st right), Hong Kong Arts Festival Chairman Ronald Arculli (2nd right) with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Contemporary Dance Series dancers Tracy Wong (1st left) and Rebecca Wong (2nd left).

The Club's Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung (left), Head of Charities Projects Rhoda Chan (centre) and the Jockey Club Local Creative Talents Series: Datong a£á¡§ The Chinese Utopia composer Chan Hing-yan (right).
The Club's Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung (left), Head of Charities Projects Rhoda Chan (centre) and the Jockey Club Local Creative Talents Series: Datong a£á¡§ The Chinese Utopia composer Chan Hing-yan (right).

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Contemporary Dance Series (left) and the first Jockey Club Local Creative Talents Series: Datong a£á¡§ The Chinese Utopia (right).
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Contemporary Dance Series (left) and the first Jockey Club Local Creative Talents Series: Datong a£á¡§ The Chinese Utopia (right).

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series 2015 features The Tsara£á?s Bride performed by The Bolshoi Opera (centre), The Flames of Paris performed by The Bolshoi Ballet (left), and the Christian Thielemann & the Staatskapelle Dresden (right).
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series 2015 features The Tsara£á?s Bride performed by The Bolshoi Opera (centre), The Flames of Paris performed by The Bolshoi Ballet (left), and the Christian Thielemann & the Staatskapelle Dresden (right).

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