The Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF) opened today (28 February) with continued support from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, a partnership that dates back to the Festival’s launch over five decades ago. The opening ceremony was held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, with officiating guests including HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee; Deputy Director General of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Li Shuguang; HKSAR Government Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law; HKSAR Government Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Manda Chan; Club Chairman Michael Lee; HKAF Chairman Lo Kingman and HKAF Executive Director Flora Yu.
HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee (front row, centre), Deputy Director General of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Li Shuguang (front row, 2nd left), HKSAR Government Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law (front row, 2nd right), HKSAR Government Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Manda Chan (front row, 1st left), Club Chairman Michael Lee (front row, 3rd left), HKAF Chairman Lo Kingman (front row, 3rd right), HKAF Executive Director Flora Yu (front row, 1st right) and other guests officiate at the opening ceremony of the 53rd Hong Kong Arts Festival.
As a long-term partner of the HKAF, the Club has supported the highly-regarded arts festival in presenting three pillar programmes under The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series each year since 2008. This year, the series features the Festival’s opening performance by Italy’s Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna, conducted by world-renowned maestro Donato Renzetti. It also includes La Sylphide, an enchanting fairy tale performed by the Czech National Ballet, and the world’s most enduring romantic opera, Bizet’s Carmen.
Furthermore, the Club’s Charities Trust is the sole sponsor of the world premiere of the Putonghua adaptation of Jules Verne’s timeless sci-fi classic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,part of the newly launched Jockey Club East-meets-West Series. This world stage play’s Putonghua adaptation, commissioned by the HKAF, will see masterminds from France collaborate with top-notch Chinese theatre artists to create a new rendition of the literary classic.
Each year The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series brings world-class performances to the city,which this year includes the 53rd Hong Kong Arts Festival’s opening performance by Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna (Photo credit: © Casalucci Ranzi).
To encourage local students from varied backgrounds to appreciate top-class artistic performances, the Club has long supported The Hong Kong Jockey Club Student Matinee Programme, which enables them to enjoy free performances. This year, the programme includes Beethoven Wars: A Battle for Peace, performed by the Insula orchestra and accentus.A guided talk will be provided for students before the performance, to enhance their understanding of the shows and theatre etiquette, as well as their capacity for arts appreciation.
The Club is also delighted to support the Jockey Club InnoArts Series with the aim to promote the convergence of art and technology. This year, the series features No Reality Now — an immersive theatre experience that combines dance with virtual reality (VR) technology. Audience members can switch between the live performance on stage and the augmented version using a VR headset that can be worn or removed at any time.
Solely sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Great Unity - Civilisation of the Qin and Han Dynasties in Shaanxi Province” exhibition will be held at the Hong Kong Museum of History from tomorrow until 7 July 2025. Featuring over 130 pieces and sets of priceless artifacts, the exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to explore the robust development and unique culture of China during the Qin and Han periods. The exhibition is also one of the activities being held in celebration of the Club’s 140th anniversary.
Guests tour “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Great Unity - Civilisation of the Qin and Han Dynasties in Shaanxi Province” exhibition.
The opening ceremony was held today (15 April) with officiating guests including Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government; Qi Bin, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Qian Jikui, Deputy Director of the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration; Martin Liao, Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Raistlin Lau, Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government; Professor Douglas So, Chairman of Museum Advisory Committee; and Manda Chan, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services.
Chan Kwok-ki, HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration (centre); Qi Bin,Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR 3rd left); Qian Jikui, Deputy Director of the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration (3rd right); Martin Liao, the Club’s Deputy Chairman (2nd left); Raistlin Lau, HKSAR Government Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism (2nd right); Professor Douglas So, Chairman of Museum Advisory Committee (1st right); and Manda Chan, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (1st left) at the “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Great Unity - Civilisation of the Qin and Han Dynasties in Shaanxi Province” exhibition opening ceremony.
Martin Liao, Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “The Club has actively supported the Leisure and Cultural Services Department in organising exhibitions under The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series, enhancing our city’s cultural vibrancy while also attracting visitors from around the world to explore exhibitions steeped in Chinese culture, elevating their artistic and cultural experience. Through a variety of arts and cultural activities, we aim to promote outstanding Chinese culture and develop Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, as outlined in the National 14th Five-Year Plan.”
Martin Liao, the Club’s Deputy Chairman, delivers a speech at the “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Great Unity - Civilisation of the Qin and Han Dynasties in Shaanxi Province” exhibition.
Following on from “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Ancient Civilisation of the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties in Henan Province”, this new exhibition is the second programme of the General History of China Series, co-presented by the Hong Kong Museum of History and the Chinese Culture Promotion Office. The meticulously curated artifacts include figures from the iconic terracotta army of Emperor Qin Shihuang, warrior and animal figurines belonging to the Emperor Jing of Han, chariot components and architectural items. Together, these artefacts highlight the political, economic, cultural, technological and cross-border developments during the Qin and Han dynasties – presenting the vibrant charm of the unified dynasties. Showcasing over 20 sets of archeological finds from Hong Kong, the exhibition also sheds light on the region’s historical development during the period, offering a deeper perspective on the connection between the seat of power and Hong Kong.
Guests tour “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Great Unity - Civilisation of the Qin and Han Dynasties in Shaanxi Province” exhibition.
In addition to presenting precious relics, the exhibition incorporates multimedia elements through education programmes to provide visitors with a more engaging experience.Visitors can explore the attire and designs of the terracotta warriors, understand Chinese characters of the Qin and Han eras and the design of architectural components, decode Lingnan boat patterns, and measure themselves in standardised Qin and Han units. An interactive education zone features vibrant displays, animations and interactive games that vividly portray the development of the Lingnan region during the Qin and Han dynasties.The exhibition will also include a series of educational and outreach activities to provide the public with a comprehensive understanding of its core themes.
Selected exhibits from “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Great Unity - Civilisation of the Qin and Han Dynasties in Shaanxi Province” exhibition.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series is the result of a partnership between the Club and the LCSD. Launched in 2012, this series has brought world-class exhibitions to Hong Kong, enabling visitors to appreciate masterpieces from different places, times and cultures. The exhibitions are complemented by various education and outreach activities. Recent exhibitions include “Fragrance of Time — In Search of Chinese Art of Scent”, and “Cézanne and Renoir Looking at the World — Masterpieces from the Musée de l’Orangerie and the Musée d’Orsay” which is currently underway at the Hong Kong Museum of Art.
Selected exhibits from “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Great Unity - Civilisation of the Qin and Han Dynasties in Shaanxi Province” exhibition.
