Hong Kong Palace Museum names its Auditorium in honour of Hong Kong Jockey Club’s donation

The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) today announced that the auditorium in the museum will be named “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Auditorium” in recognition of the HK$3.5 billion donation made by The Hong Kong Jockey Club through its Charities Trust towards the establishment of the museum.

The naming ceremony was held today at The Hong Kong Jockey Club Auditorium and was officiated by Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Henry Tang Ying-yen, Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA),  Philip N L Chen, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Jack Chan Jick-chi, Acting Secretary for Home Affairs, HKSAR Government, Bernard Charnwut Chan, Chairman of the Board of the HKPM, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer, The Hong Kong Jockey Club and Betty Fung, Chief Executive Officer of the WKCDA.

Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust’s (the Trust) donation of HK$3.5 billion, the HKPM is a collaboration between the WKCDA and the Palace Museum. Construction of the museum commenced in March 2019 and was completed in December 2021. The HKPM announced today that the museum was completed on schedule and within budget, targeting to open to the public in July 2022. Part of the Trust’s donation will support some of the major exhibitions and educational projects of HKPM in the coming nine years to help realise the museum’s vision to promote Chinese arts and culture 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.

Jockey Club supports HKPM’s vision to promote Chinese culture to future generations

The Trust’s donation will support a series of creative initiatives to be launched by HKPM between 2023 and 2031 to strengthen its efforts in promoting Chinese arts and culture, including:

• Major Exhibitions: to support the presentation of one major exhibition each year to showcase arts and culture from China and other parts of the world.
• Talent Development: to support the museum’s collaboration with local artists to launch experimental and innovative exhibitions annually. By offering local artists unique opportunities in dialogue with Palace Museum’s collections, the exhibitions will facilitate new interpretations of Palace Museum culture and provide a platform for HKPM to nurture local talent in different fields, including curation, design, education and cultural enterprise.
• Art & Technology (Artech) Education: to support HKPM to launch annual educational programmes integrating arts and technology while focusing on Chinese arts and culture. Working in collaboration with experts and organisations from various fields, this project will provide unique opportunities for students and the public to learn more about Chinese art and culture through creative and interactive methods.

Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, said that with the teamwork and untiring effort of the HKPM team, the museum has been successfully completed without any budget overruns or delays, even in the midst of the pandemic over the past two years. In fact, there is a surplus of around HK$260 million. Together with The Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Government announced today that the surplus will be used for future operational expenses for the HKPM, especially to support exhibitions and educational activities for the museum. Mrs Lam said, “Leveraging the strengths of Hong Kong to serve the country's needs, the HKPM aims to promote the excellence of traditional Chinese culture to the world through exchange and partnerships with international cultural institutions. Through these cultural exchanges, the museum also aims to foster international friendships and showcase the development of Chinese culture.”

Philip N L Chen, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “The establishment of the HKPM will enable exquisite national treasures to be displayed in Hong Kong, reflecting the importance of our city and the nation’s staunch support for it. The Club is delighted to fund the construction of this new cultural landmark and is pleased to lend its support to the exciting programme of exhibitions the museum has planned, as well as its talent development and educational outreach activities. Art and history is a gateway to connect with our heritage. I firmly believe that the Club’s support for the HKPM will enable visitors to understand and appreciate more about Chinese art and culture, further strengthening Hong Kong’s position as a world-class city and an international cultural hub.”

Henry Tang Ying-yen, Chairman of the Board of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, said: “Promoting Chinese traditional culture is at the heart of HKPM’s mission. With an aim of becoming an innovative leader in museum education, our vision is to promote the inheritance of Chinese culture and history to the public, and future generations in particular, by developing quality educational content and creative programmes, leveraging innovative technology, and collaborating with various local and international cultural and academic institutions. We are hugely grateful for the Trust’s generous donation and its recognition of our effort, which allows us to promote, realise and orchestrate such a vision.”

Promoting Chinese arts and culture in the community through the Palace Academy

Education and community engagement are among HKPM’s top priorities. Spanning the entire lower floor of the museum, the 1,600-square-metre Palace Academy will be the largest dedicated museum learning space in Hong Kong, comprising the 400-seat Hong Kong Jockey Club Auditorium and three activity rooms – Merit Hall, Magnus Hall and the Learning Resource Centre. Following the opening of the HKPM, the academy will offer a variety of educational activities, including film screenings, public lectures, student exhibitions, workshops for families, training for teachers, and courses on Chinese art, history and culture.

The HKPM is committed to building long-term strategic partnerships with local schools and other educational institutions with the aim of bringing the museum’s learning programmes and cultural resources to campuses and communities. The museum is currently developing educational resources while working to promote collaboration and innovation in the education sector. To foster young people’s interest in Chinese arts and culture, the museum will undertake a series of educational programmes, namely:

• Teaching Resources: Collaborating with the Education Bureau of the HKSAR Government, the HKPM will develop teaching resources to help students learn history through art. The materials will be specifically designed to complement the secondary school curriculum on Chinese history.
• Thematic Workshops on the Forbidden City’s Culture and History: Working in collaboration with scholars and experts from different fields, the HKPM will design thematic workshops for primary and secondary school students focusing on the life and culture, ceramic treasures and costumes of the Palace Museum and the Forbidden City.
• Volunteer & Docent Training: The HKPM is currently training volunteers and docents to assist in day-to-day operations and educational projects following the museum’s opening.

The HKPM will play a vital role in fostering Hong Kong’s future arts and culture development and strengthening the city’s connection with the Mainland and the rest of the world. The opening of the museum will be a highlight to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR this year. The Hong Kong Jockey Club has already announced a donation of HK$630 million to support a series of community initiatives as part of the anniversary celebrations.

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.
www.hkpm.org.hk

About The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2020/21, the Club returned a total of HK$29.4 billion to the community. This included HK$24.9 billion to the Government in duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$4.5 billion in approved charity donations. The Club is Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is also one of the world’s top ten charity donors. The Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong. Please visit www.hkjc.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.
https://www.westkowloon.hk/