(Hong Kong – 16 September, 2026) The Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) welcomes and supports the "Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan” and “2026 Policy Address” released by the HKSAR government today.

The various initiatives proposed in the Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address set out a clear direction for the future development of arts and culture in Hong Kong, closely aligning with the HKAC’s vision and development goals. The HKAC will continue to actively support government policies through the organisation of diverse and internationally oriented large-scale arts programmes, fostering the long-term development of Hong Kong’s cultural and artistic ecosystem, while promoting outstanding local arts brands on the global stage.

Mr Peter LAU, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the HKAC, stated, "We are delighted to see that the ‘Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan’ and the ‘2026 Policy Address’ have introduced a range of forward-looking cultural and arts policies, injecting fresh momentum into the development of arts and culture in Hong Kong. The HKAC fully supports these initiatives and is committed to actively aligning with the Government’s policy direction. Through programmes such as ‘Collect Hong Kong Art Fair’, ‘Comix Arts Fest’ and the newly repositioned ‘Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards ‘(ifva), the HKAC has been fostering the growth of local arts and creative industries while promoting artistic innovation and talent development. In addition, the ‘Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme’, launched in collaboration with the Hong Kong Art School and Lingnan University, plays an important role in preserving, revitalising and promoting Mainland China’s outstanding traditional culture. At the same time, we continue to strengthen exchanges and collaborations with the Mainland and the international arts community, bringing Hong Kong’s cultural and artistic brands to a global audience and sharing Hong Kong’s cultural stories with the world. Through these efforts, we aim to further enhance Hong Kong’s position as an international hub for cultural exchange between Mainland China and the rest of the world.”

As part of its ongoing commitment to fostering Hong Kong’s arts ecosystem, the HKAC successfully presented its flagship annual event, “Collect Hong Kong Art Fair”, once again during Art March in March 2026.The fair received overwhelming support from local artists, with submissions reaching a record high and more than doubling year on year, underscoring the vitality and growing momentum of Hong Kong’s creative community. The event also attracted extensive media coverage and garnered an enthusiastic response from the public and the arts sector alike. As one of the signature events of Art March, “Collect Hong Kong Art Fair” not only provides an important platform for local artists to showcase their work and engage with audiences, but also serves as a springboard for bringing the unique creativity and cultural richness of Hong Kong art to the international stage.

In promoting cultural and artistic exchange and collaboration, the HKAC continues to strengthen its connections with both the Mainland China and the international arts community, fostering dialogue and collaboration across diverse cultural backgrounds. During the year, the HKAC co-organised a major faculty exhibition with the China Academy of Art, providing a platform for professional exchange and artistic dialogue between practitioners from both regions, while actively exploring further opportunities for collaboration to deepen cultural and artistic cooperation. In November, the HKAC will once again partner with the team of internationally acclaimed artist Kim Jung Gi to bring a world-class arts project to Hong Kong, offering local audiences a rich and diverse cultural experience. In addition, Comix Home Base has, over the years, led numerous overseas exhibitions and international exchange programmes for local comic artists, showcasing the creativity and distinctive talents of Hong Kong’s creative community to global audiences. Through these initiatives, the HKAC actively promotes Hong Kong’s outstanding arts and cultural brands internationally, further strengthens the city’s position as an international hub for cultural exchange between Mainland China and the rest of the world.

In support of the development of film and media arts, the HKAC has introduced a newly repositioned “ifva Awards” this year, integrating three core components, namely competition, screening and education, to further strengthen its talent development framework and elevate the quality of local short film and media art creation. Marking its 30th edition, the milestone not only reflects ifva’s remarkable achievements in nurturing creative image-making and media arts over the past three decades, but also highlights its rich legacy and significant contributions to the artistic landscape. More importantly, it reaffirms the platform’s long-standing commitment to cultivating emerging creative talent and advancing the sustainable development of Hong Kong’s creative and cultural industries.

In the area of intangible cultural heritage education, the HKAS has partnered with Lingnan University on the "Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme," aims to preserve, promote, redefine and revitalize the ICH of Hong Kong by means of a holistic model that integrates education, revitalisation and investigation. By bringing together traditional artisans, contemporary art practitioners, and the general public, the programme enhances understanding of traditional values and local identity.

Looking ahead, as the HKAC approaches its 50th anniversary next year, the HKAC will continue to align with the government’s policies to enhance the cultivation of local artistic talent, foster cultural exchange both locally and internationally, and promote the industrialisation of the creative arts. At the same time, the HKAC will further promote the rich heritage of Chinese culture by stepping up efforts to showcase Chinese artistic traditions, including ink art, calligraphy and seal carving, while encouraging the preservation, innovation and contemporary interpretation of traditional cultural practices. The HKAC are eager to collaborate with the HKSAR government and various stakeholders to develop a richer and more diverse cultural and artistic landscape. Together, HKAC aim to strengthen community cohesion and creativity and bring outstanding Hong Kong arts brands to the global stage.