Hong Kong Palace Museum Announces Strategic Partnership with Bank of China (Hong Kong)

Bank offers full-fledged support for the museum’s development and its activities to promote the inheritance of Chinese art and culture

The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) is pleased to name Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited (BOCHK) as its strategic partner in recognition of the generous support the bank is providing to the museum in the areas of cultural education, major exhibitions, ticketing and opening programmes. Following its opening to the public on 2 July 2022, HKPM will launch a series of arts and cultural activities supported by BOCHK that underscore the museum’s mission to promote Chinese art and culture both locally and globally, while developing Hong Kong into an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange as outlined in the National 14th Five-Year Plan.

“HKPM SHOWTIME!” series
Under the exclusive sponsorship of BOCHK, the museum will launch the “HKPM SHOWTIME!” series, which will run from July 2022 to June 2023. The series will present a wide range of performing arts events in the museum or online every Sunday from 3pm to 4pm, spanning music, dance and drama and performed by some of Hong Kong’s leading performing arts groups and artists.

These shows, specially tailored for HKPM, will draw on the richness of the Palace Museum’s history and the beauty of Chinese arts and culture with the aim of sparking multi-disciplinary learning and education for the benefit of the public, at the same time offering new ways to promote cultural dialogue between China and the rest of the world. Echoing the museum’s mission to provide a platform for local artists, the “HKPM SHOWTIME!” series will showcase performances from Hong Kong Ballet, Hong Kong Dance Company, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, Hong Kong Gaudeamus Dunhuang Ensemble (HKGDE), Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Hong Kong Enharmonica and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.

BOCHK donates 33,000 HKPM tickets to the underprivileged 
To further support HKPM’s community engagement efforts, BOCHK will sponsor 33,000 general admission tickets and special exhibition tickets in the first year following the museum’s opening. These tickets will be distributed to underprivileged groups through HKPM’s non-governmental organisation (NGO) partners, offering people from all walks of life a chance to visit the museum and learn more about Palace Museum culture from a fresh perspective.

“A Dialogue Between Dunhuang and Palace Museum: Beyond the Bounds of History”, concert and cultural lecture event
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the opening of HKPM, BOCHK will also sponsor “A Dialogue between Dunhuang and Palace Museum: Beyond the Bounds of History”, a concert and cultural lecture event co-organised by HKPM and HKGDE. During the event, which will be held on 21 June 2022 (Tuesday), HKGDE will perform an original overture composed specifically for the occasion. Inspired by the cultural heritage of Dunhuang and the Palace Museum, the orchestra’s two resident composers have created a large-scale orchestral suite with rich narratives and a deep allegorical significance.

Building on the themes explored in the performance, a panel discussion moderated by Professor Lee Chack-fan and featuring Dr Wang Xudong, Director of the Palace Museum, Dr Zhao Shengliang, Secretary of the Party Committee at the Dunhuang Research Academy, and Dr Louis Ng, HKPM Museum Director, will explore the captivating stories underpinning the cultural heritage of Dunhuang and the Palace Museum.

Henry Tang Ying-yen, Chairman of the Board of WKCDA, said: “BOCHK has always been a strong supporter in promoting Chinese arts and culture. We are grateful for the bank’s full-fledged support for the development of HKPM and the museum’s activities, which is clear recognition of our vision to promote the inheritance of Chinese culture to future generations, and will play a significant role in helping us to realise this vision. Building on our shared goal, HKPM looks forward to establishing a close long-term partnership with BOCHK to strengthen our efforts to bring Chinese culture to the world.”

Sun Yu, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of BOCHK, said: “The HKPM encapsulates the heritage of Chinese cultural treasures blended with a global vision, telling the 5,000 years of China’s story from a modern perspective. The museum offers an excellent opportunity for the general public to appreciate Chinese culture, history and arts while also providing a significant platform for global cultural exchange. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, the 110th anniversary of the founding of Bank of China, and its 105 years of service in Hong Kong, BOCHK is deeply honoured to become a strategic partner of HKPM, supporting the launch of a host of arts and cultural activities for different community groups. Going forward, the Bank will continue to join hands with various sectors to promote Chinese traditional culture and foster Hong Kong’s development into an art and cultural exchange centre.”

More information on the “HKPM SHOWTIME!” series will be announced in the WKCDA website (https://www.westkowloon.hk/) on 16 June 2022 (Thursday). Online registration will be available from 17 June 2022 (Friday).

Remarks

About the Hong Kong Palace Museum
The Hong Kong Palace Museum aspires to become a leading institution on the study and appreciation of Chinese art and culture while advancing dialogue between world civilisations. The Hong Kong Palace Museum is a collaborative project between the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and the Palace Museum, which is funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with a donation of HK$3.5 billion for its establishment, as well as some of the annual exhibitions and education programmes in 2023-2031.

Embracing new curatorial approaches, the museum combines a Hong Kong perspective with a global vision to present precious artefacts from the Palace Museum and other important cultural institutions around the world. Through research, exhibitions, and educational and professional exchange programmes, the museum aims to build international partnerships and position Hong Kong as a global hub for art and culture. At heart a resource that belongs to the local community, the museum strives to inspire community engagement, foster dialogue, and promote creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration.
https://www.hkpm.org.hk/

About Bank of China (Hong Kong) 
As one of the three note-issuing banks in Hong Kong, BOCHK has the most extensive branch network and diverse service platforms in Hong Kong, as well as efficient e-channels such as Internet and Mobile Banking services. As a leading commercial and internationalised regional bank with deep roots in Hong Kong for over100 years, BOCHK upholds its mission of “Bridge China and the World for the Common Good”. We are committed to undertaking our corporate social responsibilities, promoting long-term and balanced sustainable development, and delivering greater value for our stakeholders and the community.
https://www.bochk.com/

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 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.
http://www.westkowloon.hk/