The 101st Board Meeting of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority

The Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA or the Authority) held its 101st meeting today. At the meeting, Ms Eva Kwong, Acting Chief Executive Officer and Chief Corporate Services Officer of WKCDA, reported on recent progress in different areas of the West Kowloon Cultural District (the District).

Ms Kwong began by reporting that M+, Asia’s first global museum of contemporary visual culture, is set to open to the public on 12 November 2021. The official M+ Opening Announcement, released on 8 September, was widely covered by local, regional and international media. The museum’s opening displays will include six thematic exhibitions drawn from different areas of strength in the M+ Collections, including visual artworks, moving image works, design objects, architectural projects. To celebrate the museum’s opening, admission fees to the M+ galleries are waived for twelve months from the date of opening for all Hong Kong residents with valid identification.

Ms Kwong noted that the Occupation Permit of the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) was issued on 29 September and its Certificate of Practical Completion is expected to be awarded by the end of this year. At that point, HKPM will begin the fitting out of exhibition galleries in preparation for the arrival of the objects from the Palace Museum in May 2022.

Ahead of the museums opening, HKPM continue to strengthen its promotional efforts. Among them is the museum’s participation at Fine Art Asia 2021 from 8 to 11 October held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The museum will have a booth there to introduce the its architectural features and outline its opening exhibition arrangements. Four talks and a conversation about the culture of the Palace Museum will be held during Fine Art Asia 2021.

HKPM will shortly launch the second of its Palace Museum Culture Lecture Series. These will run from October to December, and be hosted by senior researchers from the Palace Museums in Beijing, Taipei and Hong Kong. The lectures will cover ancient ritual jade, emperor porcelain and the court costume system, exploring the cultural significance of these ancient Chinese objects in the history of Chinese culture.

As for performing arts, Ms Kwong said the Authority had made continuous efforts to offer diverse arts and culture events. These events include Cycling Piano launched in August. Cycling Piano is a first-ever event combining art popularisation, upcycling, and the nurturing of young local artists. Every weekend evening, young musicians riding on a one-of-a-kind tricycle incorporating a vintage 1960s Hong Kong-made piano will put on live music performances at the Art Park and Waterfront Promenade.

In addition, Transition, by one of China’s most innovative names in contemporary dance, Gu Jiani, will be presented at Freespace on 1 and 2 October.

In October, the Xiqu Centre will stage two self-produced award-winning experimental Cantonese operas during the Black Box Chinese Opera Festival 2021. Wenguang Explores the Valley and Farewell My Concubine (New Adaptation) are innovative experimental productions adhering to the core concept of inheritance, development and innovation.

The popular Freespace Jazz Fest will be held for the third time from 28 to 31 October. As in previous years, the festival will bring together popular musicians for performances while also presenting cultural activities, creating a rich musical and cultural atmosphere in Freespace and the Art Park. Either loyal music fan or members of the public looking for a place to relax could be surprised by Freespace Jazz Fest.

Reporting on other construction projects in the District, Ms Kwong noted that different construction projects relating to the Integrated Basement are currently in progress. The Authority has reviewed the contents of the consultancy contracts for the detailed design of the Integrated Basement in Zones 2B and 2C and the Underground Road, and will award the contracts shortly once approval from the WKCDA Board has been given. The construction of the Lyric Theatre Complex superstructure has now reached the ground floor mezzanine level. Elsewhere, the main structure of the Artist Square Bridge has been connected to the shopping mall above MTR Kowloon Station. The bridge load transfer onto permanent columns was completed in August, and the main bridge deck was concreted early this month. The remaining work on the bridge is on target for early completion by the end of this year, ready for the opening of M+.

The Authority is actively expanding its partnerships and collaborations with other organisations, related initiatives include providing venues for the Hong Kong Tourism Board for a series of programmes. One of the programmes, West Kowloon Neighbourhood – FriendsWithYou, is now taking place in the Art Park, with the colourful giant inflatables (e.g. Little Cloud, Jelly and Rainbow Worm) created by an international art team, providing visitors with fun enjoyment.

West Kowloon is making efforts enhancing customer experience for its visitors. The Authority has recently launched its new District mobile app. Users can now use their mobile phones to purchase tickets and register for events, as well as access e-tickets. One of the app’s new functions is an AR guide feature that helps users find their way to different venues and locate restaurants and other points of interest.

The Authority has also enhanced the West Kowloon Cultural District website. The new website was launched in August, making information about programmes and facilities at the District more accessible.

Lastly, Ms Kwong announced that the WKCDA Board had approved the appointment of Ms Wendy Gan Kim-see as Deputy Chief Executive Officer (District Development). Ms Gan will assume duty in November 2021, and she will oversee development and delivery of infrastructure, arts and cultural facilities and supporting facilities for the District. She will also have lead responsibility for formulating high-level strategies to drive business development, and for handling Hotel/Office/Residential and Retail, Dining and Entertainment developments in the District.

Remarks

About the West Kowloon Cultural District
The West Kowloon Cultural District is one of the largest and most ambitious cultural projects in the world. Its vision is to create a vibrant new cultural quarter for Hong Kong on forty 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 twenty-three hectares of public open space, including a two-kilometre waterfront promenade.