10AFEST to Spotlight Asian Art-Tech & Cultural Innovations in Hong Kong This October

Marking the Indra and Harry Banga Gallery’s 10th anniversary, the three-day conference will bring together around 120 participants from 23 cities across 13 countries and regions.

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 12 October 2026 - Organised by the Indra and Harry Banga Gallery (the Gallery) of City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), 10AFEST 2026 will be held from 8 to 10 October 2026. Marking the Gallery's 10th anniversary, the inaugural conference focuses on "Asian Art-Tech & Cultural Innovations," convening museum leaders, artists, scholars, and innovators to explore cross-disciplinary collaboration and the real-world impact of Art-Tech on Asian culture.

Officiating guests, cultural leaders and international scholars gather at City University of Hong Kong for the opening of the inaugural 10AFEST, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Indra and Harry Banga Gallery.

The three-day festival will welcome around 120 participants from 23 cities across 13 countries and regions. The programme features four East–West Plenary Dialogues and six Network Presentation tracks, alongside performances, installations, exhibitions, and networking activities across CityUHK and local partner venues.

Connecting Knowledge, Art, and Technology

Across Asia, technologies like artificial intelligence, extended reality, and data science are transforming how culture is preserved and experienced. Art-Tech is shifting rapidly beyond conventional gallery walls into education, research, entrepreneurship, conservation, and direct community engagement.

Mr Charles Chin Ying-on, Council Treasurer of CityUHK, said, "International collaboration lies at the heart of our mission to address global challenges. For this inaugural edition of 10AFEST, we are honoured to bring together participants from 13 countries and regions and 23 cities. Through intercultural dialogues and interactive networking events, I am confident that participants will forge lasting friendships and lay the groundwork for future collaboration. As CityUHK continues to advance its mission of innovating into the future, 10AFEST exemplifies how art and technology can come together to inspire new ideas and create a positive impact on society."

Building on this vision, 10AFEST connects established cultural leaders with a new generation of practitioners to share perspectives, showcase emerging practices and develop relationships across disciplines and borders. 10AFEST aims to inspire new ideas and lasting partnerships that will contribute to the continued development of Art-Tech and cultural innovation in Asia.

Four East–West Dialogues on Culture and Innovation

The sessions pair distinguished global cultural leaders from contrasting institutional and geographic backgrounds to explore how organisations navigate technological shifts and evolving public expectations.

The four key plenary sessions will focus on:

• (De)globalisation and (Re)connectivity: Explore how cultural institutions navigate shifting geopolitical landscapes and changing global networks. Professor Kyong Park (Seoul/Store Front Gallery New York) and Professor Matthias Böttger (Basel Academy of Art and Design) will examine the changing impact of globalisation and cross-border engagement, focusing on how institutions can stay relevant to a new generation of digital natives while considering whether traditional intercultural diplomacy remains vital today.
• Legacy, Diversity, and Interdisciplinarity: Focusing on the evolution of historical collections, this panel highlights the intersection of diverse cultural narratives and multi-disciplinary research. Professor Lu Xiaobo (Tsinghua University) and Monsignor Alberto Rocca (Pinacoteca Ambrosiana) will discuss how institutional structures and traditions both support and limit the pursuit of new knowledge, offering insights on bridging curation with contemporary practices.
• University Museums and Experiential Learning: Centering on the evolving role of academic museums as active spaces for immersive learning, Professor Jin Jun (Central Academy of Fine Arts) and Doctor Luke Syson (Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge) will look at the changing role of university galleries, and its contribution to campus living and whole-person education at large.
• Digital Museology and Intangible Collection: Addressing the digital transformation of heritage, this session investigates the future use of advanced technologies like XR and AI in conservation. Mr Hing Chao (Hong Kong Cultural Festival) and Ms Cora Würmell (State Art Collections Dresden) will explore the relationship between physical artifacts and living archives, looking at new methods to bridge the traditional museum divides between science, art, and history.

Celebrating a Decade of Interdisciplinary Exchange

Since its inception in 2016, the Indra and Harry Banga Gallery has served as a dynamic platform for bridging the humanities and sciences through transformative exhibitions.

Mrs Indra Banga, Founding Patron and Honorary Chairperson of the Gallery's Advisory Committee, concluded: "Over the past decade, Harry and I shared a vision with CityUHK to support a pioneering platform that brings together art, culture, technology and research. Today, the Gallery has grown into a vibrant hub for learning and discovery, connecting talent and ideas from Hong Kong and around the world. We are delighted to reaffirm our continued support for the Gallery and the University.

Hashtag: #CityU

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About 10AFEST

10AFEST is an Asian interdisciplinary platform for Art-Tech and Cultural Innovation, bringing together participants from 13 countries/regions and 23 cities to exchange ideas, present projects and build future collaborations.

10AFEST Programme

• 10APLENARY — Plenary Dialogues of Cultural Leaders
• 10ANETWORK — Network Presentations of Emerging Talents
  • TRACK 1A — Translational Research in Art-Tech
  • TRACK 1B — Cultural Entrepreneurship
  • TRACK 2A — Deep Engagement & Interactive Learning
  • TRACK 2B — Inter-Cultural Collaboration
  • TRACK 3A — Asian Heritage & Digital Museology
  • TRACK 3B — Art for Social / Environmental Impact
• 10ADEMO — Performances and Exhibitions
• 10AGALA — Networking and Matching for Future Collaboration

• TRACK 1A — Translational Research in Art-Tech
• TRACK 1B — Cultural Entrepreneurship
• TRACK 2A — Deep Engagement & Interactive Learning
• TRACK 2B — Inter-Cultural Collaboration
• TRACK 3A — Asian Heritage & Digital Museology
• TRACK 3B — Art for Social / Environmental Impact

Participating countries include China, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, the UK and Vietnam.

Participating cities include Bangkok, Basel, Beijing, Cambridge, Cavite, Dresden, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Jinan, Macao, Makati City, Manila, Milan, Seoul, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Singapore, Tianjin, Ulaanbaatar, Yangon and Yogyakarta.

About the Indra and Harry Banga Gallery

Located on the CityUHK campus, the Indra and Harry Banga Gallery serves as a vibrant platform for interdisciplinary collaboration, cultural innovation, translational research, and community education since its inception in 2016. The Gallery has garnered recognition for its distinctive exhibitions, including Leonardo da Vinci: Art & Science, The Atlas of Maritime Buddhism, Central African Art – Invocation of an Unseen World, Zodiac Heads from the Yuanmingyuan and Important Treasures, On the Road: Young Media Artists in China, Prototyping: , The Power of Play, and more.

Information and photographs of past exhibitions are available on the Gallery's official website: https://www.cityu.edu.hk/bg/

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Top ranking reflects exceptional career outcomes, a world-leading alumni network and a truly global executive learning experience

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 October 2026 – The Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA (KH EMBA) Program has secured the No. 1 position globally in the Financial Times Executive MBA Ranking 2026, released today, marking an unprecedented 13th time the Program has attained the top position. Jointly offered by the HKUST Business School and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, the Program has consistently been recognized among the world's leading Executive MBA programs for its outstanding impact on participants' careers, leadership development, and global business perspectives.

Kellogg-HKUST EMBA Ranked No. 1 in the World in the Financial Times Executive MBA Ranking 2026

The latest ranking reflects KH EMBA's continued excellence across key performance indicators, including career progression, alumni outcomes, international student body, and the strength of its global network. The achievement reinforces the program's unique position at the intersection of East and West, equipping senior executives with the strategic insight and leadership capabilities required to navigate an increasingly complex global business environment.

The ranking also underscores the exceptional strength of the KH EMBA alumni community. RankedNo. 1 globally in the Alumni Network category, the program continues to cultivate a powerful international community of senior executives, entrepreneurs and industry leaders. Spanning geographies and sectors, this lifelong network facilitates business opportunities, strategic partnerships, professional exchange and career advancement.

Further validating the program's transformative career impact, KH EMBA graduates reported an average "Salary Today" of USD 607,684 (over HKD 4.7 million) and an average 69% salary increase following graduation. The program also achieved an outstanding overall satisfaction score of 9.73 out of 10, reflecting alumni confidence in the quality of the learning experience, the achievement of career goals and the enduring value of the global KH EMBA network.

Prof. Frederik ANSEEL, Dean of HKUST Business School, said, "Thirteen No. 1 rankings over nearly two decades demonstrate the consistency with which this program has delivered value to senior executives around the world. Our participants are accomplished leaders, and the depth of experience they bring to the classroom is a defining part of the learning journey. They engage with world-class faculty who challenge conventional thinking, translate cutting-edge research into practical insights, and help them navigate the complex decisions they face as leaders. Equally important are the lifelong connections formed through the program, extending into a global alumni community where members continue to mentor, support and learn from one another long after graduation."

Prof. Francesca CORNELLI, Dean of Kellogg School of Management, noted, "For more than two decades, Kellogg School of Management and HKUST Business School have fostered a close and fruitful partnership, bringing together outstanding faculty from around the world to deliver a world-class global management education. We will continue to deepen our collaboration to nurture forward-looking and responsible leaders who create long-term value for Hong Kong, Asia, and the global community."

The Financial Times ranking evaluates the world's leading EMBA programmes through a rigorous assessment framework covering alumni career outcomes, faculty research excellence, diversity, international exposure, and other key indicators of programme quality and institutional impact. The KH EMBA's position at the top of the global ranking reflects its longstanding commitment to academic excellence, transformative leadership development, outstanding career outcomes, and the cultivation of a truly global network of senior executives.

The full FT Executive MBA Ranking 2026 is available at: https://rankings.ft.com/rankings/3048/emba-2026

According to the Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance, the Kellogg-HKUST EMBA program is an exempted course. It is a matter of discretion for individual employers to recognize any qualification to which this course may lead.

Hashtag: #HKUST

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About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (https://hkust.edu.hk/) is a world-class university renowned for its excellence in innovative education, research, and impactful knowledge transfer. Adopting a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to education, HKUST was ranked 33rd globally and 6th in Asia in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and QS Asia University Rankings 2026, respectively. It was also ranked 20th worldwide in the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026, placing first among universities in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland for the third consecutive year. Eleven HKUST subjects were ranked among the world's top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. In addition, HKUST's Computer Science discipline, which encompasses areas such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, was ranked No. 1 in Hong Kong for the tenth consecutive year in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026. Its graduates are highly competitive, consistently ranking among the world's top 30 most sought-after employees. In research and entrepreneurship, more than 80% of HKUST's research was rated "world-leading" or "internationally excellent" in the University Grants Committee's Research Assessment Exercise 2020. As of September 2026, HKUST members have founded more than 2,000 active start-ups, including 11 unicorns and 23 successful exits through initial public offerings (IPOs) or mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

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