Featuring music, drama, dance and more, the five-day expo spotlights the region’s burgeoning arts scene and offers a platform for international performers
On Wednesday, August 30, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council announced the launch of the inaugural Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo (HKPax), which will take place from October 14 to 18, 2024. Besides dance, drama and other performances, it will feature talks by industry leaders, exhibitions and pitch sessions in which artists can pitch their ideas and explore potential partnerships.
The expo will be divided into seven sections, such as Expo Programmes, which will highlight established artists from Hong Kong; and International Showcases, which will put the spotlight on talents from all over the world.
HKPax will take place across several performing arts venues in the city: from the theatres and concert halls of Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Hong Kong City Hall to the black box theatre of Kwai Tsing Theatre.
The application process for the expo’s international showcases and pitch sessions was opened to artists on August 30 itself. The event’s advisory panel includes art leaders, such as Tatler’s 2022 Asia’s Most Influential honourees Tisa Ho and Kenneth Fok, West Kowloon Cultural District’s performing arts executive director Paul Tam and Tai Kwun’s arts director Timothy Calnin.
Kevin Yeung, the government’s Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, said at the press conference that now is “an opportune time to organise our own first-ever performing arts [expo]” as the city’s east-meets-west image provides “unrivalled opportunities for Hong Kong’s arts and culture sector”. He hopes the expo participants will tap into the Greater Bay Area market and promote cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world.
Immediately after the expo, Hong Kong will host the 2024 Great Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival. The two consecutive art events underline emphatically the city’s position as an international arts hub.
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