The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO) hosted a welcome reception on November 8 for the Hong Kong Arts Administrators Association (HKAAA), which brought a delegation of 23 senior arts administrators to Canada. The purpose of the visit is to strengthen ties between the arts communities in Hong Kong and Canada.
Director of the HKETO, Ms Emily Mo, welcomed the delegates who represent 13 leading arts organisations from Hong Kong. They include the prominent cultural institutions such as the West Kowloon Cultural District, the Hong Kong Arts Festival, and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, among others.
“This reception serves as a wonderful opportunity to deepen the cultural exchange between Hong Kong and Canada,” Ms Mo remarked. “It is a chance for our delegates to engage in meaningful discussions with different arts and cultural groups from Canada.”
Over 20 professionals from Toronto’s arts and cultural sector including those from the fields of dance, theatre, film and music attended the reception. Ms Mo took the opportunity to brief the guests on the latest developments of the arts and culture scene in Hong Kong.
“Hong Kong is now rapidly gaining recognition as a global center for East-meets-West international cultural exchange. The catalyst is the opening of the West Kowloon Cultural District on the beautiful harbourfront of Hong Kong. It is one of the world’s largest cultural projects clustering world-class performance venues and museums as well as all-year-round, diversified arts and cultural programmes,” Ms Mo said.
She then highlighted the city’s role as the events capital of Asia. “Hong Kong is set to host over 200 mega events throughout 2024, spanning cultural, arts, music and sports events, as well as conventions, exhibitions, traditional festivals, and carnivals,” Ms Mo shared.
Ms Mo encouraged the Canadian counterparts to visit Hong Kong and experience the vibrant and dynamic metropolitan glamour of the city.
The visit of the Hong Kong delegation is supported by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. In addition to their activities in Toronto, the delegates will also participate in the CINARS Biennale in Montreal from November 11 to 16, further expanding their connections with the international arts community.
香港經貿處為香港藝術訪問團舉辦歡迎招待會
香港駐多倫多經濟貿易辦事處（香港經貿處）於十一月八日舉辦歡迎招待會，歡迎香港藝術行政人員協會23位高級藝術行政人員到訪加拿大，以加強港加兩地藝術界的連繫。
香港經貿處處長巫菀菁歡迎13個代表西九文化區、香港藝術節及香港中樂團及其他重要的香港文化藝術團體的訪問團成員。
巫菀菁表示：「今次招待會提供寶貴機會促進港加的文化交流，讓香港訪問團與加拿大不同文化藝術團體進行深度討論。」
招待會吸引逾20位多倫多文化藝術界別的專業人員出席，所涉及的藝術領域包括舞蹈、戲劇、電影及音樂。巫菀菁在會上向嘉賓介紹香港藝術文化的新氣象。
巫菀菁表示：「香港最近已被認同為中外文化藝術國際交流中心，而西九文化區的開幕實在功不可沒。座落於香港美麗海旁的西九文化區是全球最大的文化項目之一，集合多個世界級表演場地及博物館，年中無休舉辦各式各樣的文藝節目。」
巫菀菁同時介紹香港作為亞洲盛事之都的角色。她說：「香港於二零二四年主辦超過200場大型活動，範疇涵蓋文化、藝術、音樂和體育盛事，也包括會議、展覽、傳統節慶和嘉年華。」
巫菀菁鼓勵加拿大文化人到訪香港，感受香港朝氣洋溢的都會魅力。
香港訪問團的探訪活動由香港特別行政區政府的文化體育及旅遊局全力支持。除到訪多倫多外，訪問團亦會參加於十一月十一日至十六日在滿地可舉行的CINARS 雙年展，進一步擴展與國際藝術界的交流。
