81st Board Meeting of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority

The Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) held its 81st meeting today.
 

In the meeting, WKCDA’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Duncan Pescod reported that the construction of the Lyric Theatre Complex project continues at full pace. The first installation of the important and unique Vibration Isolation Springs, which will protect the structure of the future theatre from any surrounding ground noise and vibration, will take place later this year.
 

The main construction works for the Hong Kong Palace Museum Project are also progressing on track and the first concrete pours of the building’s main structure have taken place recently. The construction of the future pedestrian link between the Xiqu Centre and MTR’s Austin Station is ongoing.
 

Freespace in the Art Park is nearing full operation with final fit out progressing well. On 14 and 15 June, West Kowloon Cultural District and Le French May will co-present the Hong Kong debut of French choreographer Christian Rizzo’s acclaimed dance work “From a True Story” at Freespace. Tickets are now available on WKCDA website.
 

At the Xiqu Centre, the talented Tea House Rising Stars Troupe is presenting a brand new selection of excerpt performances from now till August. The carefully curated programme illustrates a range of musical, vocal and acting techniques, and features a selection of classic Cantonese opera excerpts including an excerpt from “The Reincarnation of Red Plum” as well as new presentations of nanyin and music ensemble performances.
 

Between June and August, the Xiqu Centre, in a joint presentation with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the Government), will host some of the programmes for the 10th Chinese Opera Festival including the Grand Opening performance for this exciting annual programme.
 

At the M+ Pavilion, from 7 June to 20 October 2019, the exhibition “Five Artists: Sites Encountered” will bring together an international group of artists whose varied approaches offer ways to rethink ideas of site and place. It features a wide array of work including sculptures, installations, and films by Lee Bul, May Fung, Ana Mendieta, and Charlotte Posenenske as well as a specially commissioned project by Lara Almarcegui. This all-female line-up spanning multiple generations and geographies and hailing from different historical moments offers their individual perspectives on the idea of site, from intangible to tangible, imagined to real. Their work together provides a thought-provoking dialogue with the physical site around the soon-to-be-completed M+ building, and generally prompts us to explore our sense of belonging in the world. Programmes accompanying the exhibition include conversations with the exhibiting artists, teachers’ private viewings and a series of thematic and curator-led tours.
 

The WKCDA was pleased to report the appointment of Dr Louis Ng Chi-wa to the position of Museum Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum. Dr Ng will be responsible for developing the museum’s strategic vision, exhibitions and programming as well as managing its collections, exhibitions, educational functions, audience-building strategies, operations, fundraising and financial management. His appointment will take effect from 5 August 2019.
 

Mr Pescod was pleased to report WKCDA’s publication “Encountering Practice” has won the Hong Kong Best Design and Silver Award (Book | Graphic design) at the Hong Kong Designer Association Global Design Awards 2018. “Encountering Practice” is a stand-alone collection of volumes exploring contemporary theatre-making practice. Inspired by conversations initiated during the 2015 International Workshop Festival of Theatre in Hong Kong, the collection interrogates six different forms of artistic creation. Each volume comprises multi-perspective observations and reflections by theatre-makers from around the world.
 

Meanwhile, the Lyric Theatre Complex and Extended Basement has won the Silver Award in the Considerate Contractors Site Award (Non-Public Works-New Works-Group A) and the Merit award for Outstanding Environmental Management & Performance Award in the 25th Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme, organised by the Government’s Development Bureau and Construction Industry Council.
 

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.