Hong Kong must boost funding for the performing arts if it truly wants to be ‘Asia’s world city’

Although Hong Kong is branded as “Asia’s world city”, the quality of its cultural life still lags far behind that of London and New York, while Western classical music and grand opera are integral parts of cultural life in Beijing and Shanghai. Unlike Hong Kong – all tier one and many tier two mainland cities have world-class Western opera houses.

Promoting the performing arts is important for several reasons. First, as an ultimate expression of human creativity, they should be promoted for their own sake. Second, these arts are essential parts of the life of any “world city” worthy of the name. Hong Kong has to demonstrate that it is a world-class city because of the overall quality of life, of which the performing arts are a very important constituent. Third, there are significant economic and financial benefits.

A government report on the cultural and creative industries in 2013 indicated they are among the city’s most dynamic sectors, helping economic growth and job creation. Development as a major international performing arts centre will also benefit tourism.

Hong Kong government funding for the performing arts tends to focus on training and education through the Academy for Performing Arts and building venues such as the West Kowloon Cultural District, rather than performing arts companies – which provide the critical link between training and venues.

In 2017-18, the academy received HK$327.4 million in subventions. But its students have relatively few job opportunities in Hong Kong, as existing arts centres and companies can absorb only a very small number. Most become teachers or tutors. If they leave the city, the public funds invested in their training are wasted.

West Kowloon will comprise arts and cultural venues, the number and purpose of which continually fluctuates. The initial government endowment was HK$21.6 billion but the final cost will be significantly higher. Massive sums of public money are being spent on this project. On completion, the cultural venues must be fully utilised to ensure they are not a continuing and significant drain on the public purse.

A major proportion of artistic programmes must be provided by local performing arts companies,which will also help to employ the academy’s graduates. However, are they able and resourced to do this?