+ subscribe
Subscribe now
Subscribe our newsletter now!

Press

2018-03-28

HKAC’s Pop-Art Fundraising Night 2018
Raising Fund to Support Art Programmes and Transform Lives 40th Anniversary Fundraising Gala

Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC), the only multi-arts, non-profit institution having served Hong Kong for four decades, hosted its inaugural fundraising gala at the Government House last Saturday (24 March 2018). The gala was supported by long time patrons and art lovers, with The Hon Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, GBM, GBS, The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, as our guest-of-honour.

Referencing the 1970s when HKAC was born, the much-anticipated event picked Pop Art as its theme. The fundraising gala featured young Hong Kong talents and honoured the Creator of 13 Dots, Theresa Lee, as well as the leading artist Samson Young, who represented Hong Kong at last year’s Venice Biennale, for their outstanding contributions to the local creative scene as recipients of the HKAC Honorary Fellowships. Young Hong Kong talents included Hong Kong Art School Alumnus San Chiu Yan, Street Music Series Music Workshop Student Esther Yeung and Hong Kong Art School student Yo were featured at the fundraising night too.

“We believe that art can bring people together in a positive and meaningful way,” said Mr. Nelson Leong, Chairman, Board of Governors, Hong Kong Arts Centre, who emphasised how the raised fund is significant in addressing the needs of the society at large. “HKAC is a self-funded and non-profit-making institution for Hong Kong – all of the money will be dedicated to supporting the art programmes and education, including for students of the Hong Kong Art School on their graduation exhibitions and oversea trips.”

“My long-standing passion for art education enriches my understanding of its significance in many of our lives – and how it can lead us to a better direction,” Chairman of Hong Kong Art School Council Ms. Winnie Chiu, JP shared at the dinner. “Art education can bring on another dimension by unleashing our creative energy: a constant feedback from students is how the School has fundamentally changed their lives for the better. Arts education constitutes an important part of the HKAC’s roles, together, we shall transform Hong Kong into a truly creative and vibrant city.”

Other honorable guests present in the fundraising night included Mr. Zeng Fanzhi, the renowned Chinese artist with record-breaking auction sales; Dr. Peter Lam Kin-ngok, GBS, Chairman, Hong Kong Tourism Board; Mr. Martin Lee Ka-shing, JP, Vice Chairman, Henderson Land Development Co. Ltd., and his wife, Mrs. Cathy Lee, Chairperson, The FRIENDS of Hong Kong Arts Centre.

“I wish to express my sincere gratitude to our amazing friends and Committee members, who not only contributed diverse talents, but also time, energy and ideas to bring about this memorable evening and our many efforts to come,” said Mrs. Cathy Lee. Chairperson of the FRIENDS of the Hong Kong Arts Centre.

Aside from Mrs. Cathy Lee and Ms. Winne Chiu, the much-anticipated event would not be made possible without the genuine support of all the fellow members of the Organising Committee including Ms. Jasmine Chen; Mrs. Cecilia Cheung; Mrs. Leigh Tung Chou; Ms. Pansy Ho, ONM, JP. Ms. Cissy Pao Pui-lai, BBS, the Honorary President of the Hong Kong Arts Centre and Mrs. Lisa Tang, the Honorary Patron of The FRIENDS of Hong Kong Arts Centre also marked a unique presence at the Fundraising night.

As this year marks the 40th anniversary of HKAC, a rebranding exercise and major building renovation have been in place. In addition to a continuous line-up of innovative programmes for the public, the Harbour Arts Sculpture Park, Hong Kong’s first international sculpture park on the city’s iconic harbourfront, we have many upcoming unique exhibitions including the first solo exhibitions of Sean Scully (28 Mar – 29 April, 2018) and Jane Lee (May 11 – June 10, 2018) in Hong Kong, featuring abstract art by the Irish-born, New York-based living master and installations by the acclaimed Singaporean artist respectively, our highlight programme this September will be the HKAC 40th anniversary exhibition Wanchai Grammatical: Past, Present and Future, in addition to our HKAC’s recurring programmes like ifva and film screenings in collaboration with Golden Scene. The Hong Kong Art School, the only studio-based institution offering award-bearing programmes in Hong Kong, has their ongoing efforts also on supporting young talents within the local art ecosystem and beyond.

Sponsors of the HKAC 40th Anniversary Fundraising Gala included LOUIS VUITTON, The Mira Hong Kong, Sotheby's, DNA (Dynamic Network Alliances Limited) and other HKAC’s longtime supporters and collaborators.

Photo Captions:
1: (from left): HKAC 40th Anniversary Fundraising Gala Organising Committee(from left): Ms. Winnie Chiu; Ms. Jasmine Chen; Mrs. Cathy Lee; Mrs. Cecilia Cheung; Mr. Nelson Leong; Mrs. Leigh Tung Chou; Ms. Pansy Ho; and Ms. Connie Lam, Executive Director, Hong Kong Arts Centre
2: (from left): Mr. Samson Young, Hong Kong artist; Mrs. Leigh Tung Chou; Ms. Jasmine Chen; Ms. Pansy Ho; Ms. Winnie Chiu; The Hon Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, GBM, GBS; Mrs. Cathy Lee; Mrs. Cecilia Cheung; Ms. Theresa Lee, Creator of 13 Dots; Ms. Connie Lam; and Mr. Nelson Leong
3: Live Music Performance: Esther Yeung, Street Music Series Music Workshop student; Guitarist Nathaniel Yu
4: HKAC 40th Anniversary Fundraising Gala
Media Enquiry:
Annie Ho (Marketing and Development Director) Tel: 2824 5306/ 9481 8706  Email: aho@hkac.org.hk
Fiona Lau (Marketing and Development Officer)  Tel: 2582 0215                     Email: flau@hkac.org.hk
Sandy Au (Marketing and Development Officer)  Tel: 2582 0282                     Email: sau@hkac.org.hk