15 Years of Major Arts Developments in Hong Kong
THE CONTEXT
Asia’s leading cities are competing for economic and cultural leadership. Singapore, Shanghai, Taipei, and Hong Kong have all transformed themselves in recent years. In Hong Kong the spirit of entrepreneurship and commitment to commercial development has always been evident. Alongside this there has been a growing recognition of the part that culture needs to play in the life of Hong Kong and in shaping of the City’s profile overseas. The West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) is a signature cultural project which has the capacity to significantly change the cultural life of Hong Kong and provide an enormous boost to creative activity within the Special Administrative Region (SAR). This 40 hectare site includes several major performance venues to host Chinese and Western performance, studio theatres, a world-class new contemporary art museum (known as M+), and a new public park.
OUR INVOLVEMENT
Positive Solutions assisted Norman Foster Architects with their competition-winning concept development plan for the Cultural District (2009). We undertook demand assessment, concept and vision articulation, and advised on the operational implications of the design choices. For the Hong Kong Government, with GHK (now ICF) and Deloitte we prepared detailed financial projections for the performing arts facilities to inform costings for the Cultural District (2006-2008); and with Hewitt Associates we advised on staffing
structure and role descriptions for the newly-established WKCD Authority (2008-2009). We also advised the WKCD Authority on the governance and operation of all the performing arts facilities planned for the site (2009-2010).
OUR OTHER PROJECTS IN HONG KONG
Positive Solutions’ engagement with Hong Kong commenced in 2002 when we worked with GHK (HK) to undertake an audit of all performing arts facilities in the SAR and to create a strategy for their future development. In addition to our work in West Kowloon, we have undertaken a review of the funding system for performing arts organisations for the Home Affairs Bureau (2010-2011); assisted Hong Kong Arts Festival with their strategic planning (2009); and prepared a management model and business plan for the new Tai Po Art Development Centre (2014).
