More than 1,000 arts and cultural visionaries and thought leaders from around the world gathered at the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD or the District), today to kick off the inaugural Hong Kong International Cultural Summit 2024 (HKICS or the Summit), the largest international cultural conference ever staged in Hong Kong, hosted by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA or the Authority).
The Opening cum Plenary Session took place at the Xiqu Centre, the District’s flagship performing arts venue, this morning, bringing together more than 1,000 delegates from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Asia and beyond. Addressing the opening session were John KC Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR); Henry Tang Ying-yen, Chairman of the Board of WKCDA; Dr Wang Xudong, Director of The Palace Museum, who delivered a congratulatory message on behalf of Sun Yeli, Minister of Culture and Tourism and Bertrand Lortholary, Ambassador of France to China.
Henry Tang Ying-yen, Chairman of the Board of WKCDA, highlighted the Authority’s commitment to promoting dialogue and building partnerships across countries and regions through arts and culture. “I wish to express my gratitude to the esteemed visionaries and leaders from the global arts and culture sector who have travelled here to share their wisdom, forge new relationships and sign Memoranda of Understanding. We see this as a vote of confidence in Hong Kong. I hope that by gaining first-hand experience of this amazing city and its vibrant arts and cultural scene, the delegates will better understand the potential of Hong Kong as a fulcrum for the arts, cultural and creative industries, and see the importance of the WKCD as a ‘cultural CBD’ that is rapidly gaining recognition on the international stage.”
In his remarks at the Summit’s opening, John KC Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, reaffirmed Hong Kong’s long-standing role as the multicultural bridge between East and West. "Under the auspices of the unique 'one country, two systems' principle, Hong Kong is the only city in the world that enjoys both the China advantage and the global advantage," said Mr Lee. He remarked that the National 14th Five-Year Plan supports Hong Kong's development into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. He said the HKSAR Government attaches great importance to propelling Hong Kong's rise as a cultural hub, and expressed his confidence that international collaborations like those facilitated by the Summit will enrich Hong Kong's cultural landscape and create invaluable opportunities for the city's performing arts groups, artists and youth to broaden their creative horizons. He welcomed artists and cultural groups from various places to perform in Hong Kong and experience all that Hong Kong has on offer as a world city.
Delivering a congratulatory message on behalf of Sun Yeli, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Dr Wang Xudong, Director of The Palace Museum, China, said, “This Summit brings together cultural leaders and experts from across the world to discuss the latest trends and practices in cultural development, in order to build a platform that promotes cultural exchanges and understanding between East and West. This Summit injects new energy into the development of Hong Kong's cultural industries, paving the way for the integrated development of Hong Kong's culture and tourism at a wider, deeper, and higher level.”
Bertrand Lortholary, Ambassador of France to China, said, “Cultural exchanges between France and Hong Kong are dense, and we want to continue strengthening them, with the West Kowloon Cultural District as a major partner.”
Themed “Connecting Cultures, Bridging Times”, the Summit has brought together more than 20 eminent speakers from 12 countries and regions, including the heads of the world’s most important cultural districts and most esteemed international arts and cultural institutions, to engage in compelling discussions on topical issues related to the future development of cultural districts and museums. The delegates also include leaders from the world’s top museums, conservation and art research institutes and performing arts organisations, as well as from the academic, commercial and film sectors and government.
Plenary Session: Cultural Districts’ Contributions to the Social and Economic Transformation of Cities
The Summit’s Plenary Session, moderated by Betty Fung, CEO of WKCDA, delved into the similarities and differences between different cultural district development models, best practices in the sector, and the tangible and intangible contributions cultural districts can bring to a city such as stimulating innovation and investment and enriching the ecosystem of the creative economy. The speakers included Tim Reeve, Chair of East Bank Board, Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer of Victoria and Albert Museum, London, United Kingdom; Shaika Al-Nassr, Director, Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar; Katrina Sedgwick, Director and CEO, Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation, Australia; and Akiko Miki, International Artistic Director, Benesse Art Site Naoshima, Japan. They shared insights on the multifaceted contributions of cultural districts in bringing transformative social and economic changes, exploring how cities harness their power to enhance people’s quality of life, establish city branding, and catalyse the growth of industries such as cultural tourism.
Panel Discussion (I): Promise of Digital
Held at M+ this afternoon, the first panel discussion of the Summit, Promise of Digital, focused on the response of the arts and culture sector to the rapid advancements in digital technologies and how they are reshaping museums and creative practices. Moderated by Dr András Szántó, New York-based cultural strategy consultant and author, featured speakers included Refik Anadol, Media Artist and Director, Refik Anadol Studio, United States/Turkey; Dr Thomas P. Campbell, Director and CEO, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, United States; Maholo Uchida, Project Head, Center for Cultural Innovations at TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY, East Japan Railway Foundation for Cultural Innovations, Japan; and Dr Marcella Lista, Head Curator, New Media and Asia Pacific, Centre Pompidou, France. The session offered important insights into the profound impact of emerging technologies on the global ecology of arts and culture and the possibilities for new forms of creation and storytelling.
Panel Discussion (II): Decentring Digital
The second panel discussion, Decentring Digital, was moderated by Suhanya Raffel, Museum Director, M+, HKSAR. The session focused on the possibilities and pitfalls of a digital-centric existence, examining whether the emergence of Web 3.0 will foster individual autonomy and ensure equal access to knowledge and resources. This panel at M+ featured Yat Siu, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, Animoca Brands, HKSAR; Prof Michael John Gorman, Director Designate, MIT Museum, United States and Founding Director, BIOTOPIA Naturkundemuseum Bayern, Germany; María Wills Londoño, Independent Curator and Former Director, Banco de la República Art Museums, Bogotá, Colombia; and Ma Yansong, Architect, Founder of MAD Architects, China. The panellists shared perspectives on how people can stay connected to the natural world and preserve material histories and cultures in the face of the ongoing digital transformation.
More key topics around modern museum practices and international collaborations in the cultural field will be explored tomorrow, 26 March, at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, focusing on two panel discussions themed Rethinking Museum Interpretation in a Global Context, and New Ways of Collaborating and Sharing in the Post-Pandemic Era: International Perspectives. Livestreaming is available for local and global participants wishing to participate in the Summit online. Details are available at the Summit's website.
The Summit kicks off the bustling Hong Kong Art Week 2024, when the city brims with artistic vibrancy and plays host to a multitude of captivating arts and cultural events, including Art Basel Hong Kong and Art Central. Global arts and cultural practitioners arriving in Hong Kong this week can enjoy a multitude of networking opportunities, including The Party at M+ this evening as well as bilateral discussions, exclusive tours of museums and other cultural institutions in Hong Kong and attending performing arts programmes, enabling them to experience the unique East-meets-West cultural flavour of Hong Kong.
WKCDA extends its heartfelt gratitude to the sponsors whose generous support has made the Summit possible. These include the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the HKSAR Government, Major Sponsor of the Summit; Cathay, WKCDA’s Travel Partner; and The Peninsula Hong Kong and HKT, Hotel Partner and Technology Partner of the Summit, respectively. South China Morning Post and The Art Newspaper are the Media Partners of the Summit.
The Authority has collaborated closely with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Information Services Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the HKSAR Government and Art Basel in publicising the Summit and Hong Kong Art Week. This concerted effort aims to elevate Hong Kong’s international profile as a cultural hub and premier cultural tourism destination.
The content of this/these programme(s)/activity(ies) does not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Remarks
About the West Kowloon Cultural District
The West Kowloon Cultural District is one of the largest and most ambitious cultural projects globally. Its vision is to create a vibrant new cultural quarter for Hong Kong on 40 hectares of reclaimed land located alongside Victoria Harbour. With a varied mix of theatres, performance spaces, and museums, the West Kowloon Cultural District will produce and host world-class exhibitions, performances and cultural events, providing 23 hectares of public open space, including a two-kilometre waterfront promenade.