(Hong Kong, 15 March 2019) Co-presented by the Hong Kong Arts Festival and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, No Limits, which promotes inclusiveness through the arts, officially opens today with Gala. A renowned work by award-winning French artist Jérôme Bel, Gala is a dance performance featuring over 20 individuals with different abilities from all walks of life.
The opening ceremony of No Limits is held at the Sha Tin Town Hall and officiated by Mr Wong Kam-sing, Acting Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Prof. King-man Lo, Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival; The Hon Sir C K Chow, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Ms Grace Cheng, Vice-Chairperson of Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong, Strategic Supporting Partner of No Limits; and Ms Tisa Ho, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival.
At the opening ceremony, Mr Wong Kam-sing, Acting Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government set aside HK$250 million for the establishment of the Arts Development Fund for Persons with Disabilities to subsidize non-governmental organizations that are experienced in developing arts activities or training for persons with disabilities, fostering their interests in arts and exploring their potential through provision of general and advanced arts programmes. The organisations are also expected to help persons with disabilities with great artistic potential to strive for excellence and develop their career in performing, visual or creative arts. Mr Wong also expressed the need for the support and participation of all sectors of society in the development of an inclusive, harmonious and caring society. He thanked the Hong Kong Arts Festival and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for launching the No Limits project.
“The Hong Kong Arts Festival is delighted to co-present the new project No Limits this year with the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, and to promote inclusiveness through the arts”, says Prof. King-man Lo, Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival. “I would like to especially thank the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for their continuous support to the Festival, and initiating this meaningful project with us. I would also like to express our sincere appreciation to Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong, Strategic Supporting Partner of No Limits, and the contribution of many supporting organisations towards this Project.”
The Hon Sir C K Chow, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club said that “No Limits” enabled artists with different abilities to showcase their talents on stage, while the audience could enjoy the arts in a barrier-free environment. “The Club has placed emphasis on four strategic areas: youth; the elderly; sports; and arts, culture and heritage to respond to the different needs of the community and promote the sustainable development of society. We are committed to helping Hong Kong become a culturally vibrant city, enriching lives and promoting social inclusion.”
The Hong Kong Arts Festival and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust are committed to enriching the cultural life of the city by providing platforms for outstanding international and local artists across all genres of the performing arts to showcase their talents. Aiming to promote inclusiveness and understanding via the arts, No Limits in 2019 will feature artists from different parts of the world including France, Canada, Ireland and Japan, who will stage 7 programmes in 64 performances, including Asian premieres and new works with Hong Kong artists.
To facilitate persons with different abilities to enjoy the arts, different No Limits programmes will provide different arts accessibility services including audio description in Cantonese, accessible captions, Hong Kong sign language interpretation, theatrical interpretation, easy-to-read booklets and relaxed performances.
In addition to great performances, No Limits offers a diverse range of outreach activities via the Jockey Club No Limits Education and Community Programmes. Activities include an Artists-in-Residence Programme, Train-the-Trainer Workshops and a Roundtable Discussion, focused on exploring and promoting understanding and inclusiveness and enriching the arts experiences of different communities in Hong Kong.
Four of the seven No Limits programmes are already sold out (except wheelchair seats in selected performances). Tickets to the remaining performances can be purchased at URBTIX outlets (online booking: www.urbtix.hk or telephone booking: 2111 5999). Tickets to performances at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts are also available at HK Ticketing outlets (online booking: www.hkticketing.com or telephone booking: 31 288 288).
ABOUT THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL (HKAF)
Launched in 1973, the Hong Kong Arts Festival is a major international arts festival committed to enriching the cultural life of the city. In February and March every year, the Festival presents over 1500 leading local and international artists in all genres of the performing arts in around 150 performances, placing equal importance on great traditions and contemporary creations. The Festival also commissions and produces work in theatre, music, chamber opera and contemporary dance by Hong Kong’s own creative talent and emerging artists, many of which have had successful subsequent runs in Hong Kong and overseas. The Festival also presents over 300 “PLUS” and educational activities that offer diverse arts experiences to the community as well as tertiary, secondary and primary school students.
For more information about the Hong Kong Arts Festival, please visit: www.hk.artsfestival.org
ABOUT NO LIMITS
Co-presented by the Hong Kong Arts Festival and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, No Limits is a new project aimed at promoting inclusiveness and understanding via the arts.
The first edition of No Limits in March 2019 comprises a seven-programme series of dance, theatre, music performances and other art forms by local and international artists. The project also invests heavily in arts education for young people, where diverse arts experiences are designed to nurture students’ interest in the arts, and to promote understanding of inclusiveness to every corner of the community.
For more information about No Limits, please visit: www.nolimits.hk
Media Enquiries
Silvia Choy Tel: 2828 4973 Email: silvia.choy@hkaf.org
