This summer, wherever you are in the world, bask in the warm glow of Hong Kong’s brilliant arts and culture scene. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is launching a ‘Arts in Hong Kong’ campaign to promote the city’s unique and enduring appeal as an arts and cultural hub to a global audience, based on the staging of international art and cultural events. The programme intends to improve Hong Kong’s international prominence by providing in-depth community arts and culture tours, as well as interactive art tech experiences, to inspire both locals and visitors to rediscover the city through a cultural lens.
“In-depth travel experiences have become a major global trend, and arts and culture are a vital driver of this trend,” said HKTB Executive Director Mr Dane Cheng. For the past nine years, the Hong Kong Tourism Board has organised a ‘Art Month’ promotion during which international events are held in the city to produce city-wide art vibes. New world-class art icons such as M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum are also opening their doors, enhancing Hong Kong’s attraction as an arts and cultural vacation destination. The HKTB will make ‘Arts in Hong Kong’ a year-round promotional platform to enhance awareness of the city’s always-on, diverse experience of arts and culture as the city’s arts scene develops richer than ever.
In May, ‘Arts in Hong Kong’ was launched with international events such as Art Basel Hong Kong and French May, as well as a series of unique neighbourhood projects that will serve as the centrepiece of a series of promotions demonstrating that large-scale art and cultural events have returned to Hong Kong. The campaign will also be part of the HKTB’s existing ‘Hong Kong Summer Treats’ initiative, which encourages citizens to see Hong Kong in different ways.
The HKTB is collaborating with international arts event organisers in Hong Kong to expand their reach and effect. It has partnered with Art Basel Hong Kong to organise online tours, for example, and has asked Hong Kong artists to bring an explosion of colour to the streets by displaying their work on the streets.
The HKTB is increasing its use of technology to promote art events and cultural sites, as the merger of arts and technology is a fast rising trend. It has created a video to promote French May’s highlighted programme Intraverse, an interactive virtual reality experience, and is assisting in the promotion of the moving image work The Shape of Light – a joint presentation by Art Basel and M+ – as well as the Hong Kong Museum of Art’s outdoor artwork installation, Resonance-In-Sight.