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The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) is excited to announce the completion of its second major performing arts venue – Freespace. Located in the heart of the Art Park, Freespace offers a dynamic, creative and flexible space for arts and cultural events, and is a new platform for artistic experimentation and exploration.
As its name suggests, Freespace is a free and creative facility with both indoor and outdoor performing venues where artists and audiences will engage, exchange ideas and explore the endless possibilities of performing arts with no boundaries. Freespace houses The Box, one of the largest black box theatres in Hong Kong, a flexible space for cutting-edge performances. The Room and The Studio are two multi-purpose spaces designed to be used for creative exchange and artistic collaborations. Freespace is adjacent to the great lawn and other outdoor performance spaces in the Art Park.
Officiating guests at the press event were Mr Henry Tang Ying-yen, Chairman of WKCDA Board, Mr Wan Man-yee, Chairman of Performing Arts Committee, Mr Duncan Pescod, Chief Executive Officer of WKCDA, Mr Louis Yu Kwok-lit, Executive Director, Performing Arts of WKCDA and Ms Alison M. Friedman, Artistic Director, Performing Arts of WKCDA.
Mr Tang said, ‘With Freespace, the West Kowloon Cultural District continues to deliver on its vision to create a vibrant and world-renowned hub that attracts and nurtures creative talent locally and around the globe. I am confident that Freespace will become one of the most vital and instrumental creative spaces in the city.’
Mr Yu remarked, ‘Freespace is built for the people of Hong Kong especially the younger generation, to enjoy and explore the world of contemporary performing arts. Following the success of Freespace Fest and Freespace Happening in recent years, Freespace the arts centre will create a unique indoor and outdoor arts experience for all visitors.’
Ms Friedman explained, ‘As Hong Kong’s new centre for contemporary performance, Freespace is launching a series of new programmes, as well as building on the strong partnerships developed in recent years with local and international artists. This autumn we launch Freespace Jazz Fest, a major new festival utilising all venues in Freespace and selected areas of the Art Park. It will feature global jazz and world music luminaries as well as local jazz artists in performances, workshops, and improv jams.’
Freespace comes into operation from mid-June 2019. Programming in The Box at Freespace includes partnership co-presentations with Le French May, Edward Lam Dance Theatre, Hong Kong Repertory Theatre and others. The Livehouse, an intimate bar-cafe at the main entrance of Freespace, will programme regular live music performances from a wide range of genres, including indie, classical, jazz, and more.
‘The completion of Freespace underscores the continued growth of the West Kowloon Cultural District. With the final phase of the Art Park and water-front promenade to be completed by the end of 2019, this area will become a focal point for people to immerse themselves in arts and culture.’ Observed Mr Pescod.
To continue to encourage wide participation in the arts, Freespace will continue to present free outdoor performances, free and paid workshops, the West Kowloon 101 lecture series, and other audience engagement activities within the building and the Art Park.
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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.
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