Introduction

Vision > Contemporary Arts Need in Hong Kong

Throughout the design and planning of the Project, the need for providing a contemporary art hub at the CPS was identified. Contemporary art plays an increasingly recognised and important role in the development of Hong Kong as a vibrant 'World City'. Compared to the performing arts, however, contemporary visual art has received less support and attention from funding bodies and therefore from the general public as well. Considering the importance of contemporary art as a strategic cultural initiative and future plans for investment in large-scale contemporary arts venues, such as the future West Kowloon Cultural District, there is an urgent need for increased support for contemporary art. This support includes expanded art education, increased funding for art activities, and additional studio and exhibition space for artists and art organizations. The need for increased space includes the necessity to establish an independent, high-quality, professionally operated, medium-size contemporary art space.

Justification for an Art Hub at CPS

With its myriad small galleries and antique shops, the Hollywood Road area is already Hong Kong’s premier visual arts quarter. The CPS development is a logical consolidation and acknowledgement of this long established use as well as an inspired preservation and revitalisation of a crucial part of the Central district’s built heritage that is in keeping with the changed circumstances and needs of today.

The CPS presents a unique opportunity to transform a moribund, decaying site for vital cultural, educational and leisure use by providing a wide range of medium sized, high quality visual arts/performance related spaces that fill the gap between the pre-existing small galleries on Hollywood Road and the planned West Kowloon Cultural District It is intended that the CPS will create a dynamic cultural synergy in the centre of the city by housing (at cost) successful existing Hong Kong arts organisations, by providing facilities and displays for learning about Hong Kong’s heritage and visual culture, as well as contemporary art more generally, and by initiating and presenting exhibitions and other events that are of local, regional and international importance.

The revitalised CPS would not only provide an internationally visible platform for artists, creators and arts organisations from Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta but would also enable some of the very best art and exhibitions that are currently being made world-wide to be widely seen in Hong Kong. The lack of such a facility in the centre of the city has been an impediment to the development, practice and broader appreciation of visual culture and related cultural industries in both Hong Kong and the region. In terms of the cultural facilities available in other world class cities, the absence of such a medium sized high quality space has been a serious and long- standing weakness in Hong Kong's cultural infrastructure as well as in the portfolio of public spaces, heritage interpretation areas, arts and other attractions the city is able to offer.

The CPS offers a wide variety of options for arts related uses which include the presentation of exhibitions of art, design, photography, film, fashion, video, music and performance, the making available of study areas and reading rooms on modern and contemporary art, design etc, flexible teaching, conference, performance and event spaces and accommodation for leading existing Hong Kong-based arts organisations.

This unique opportunity for creating synergy on the CPS by bringing together new and established Hong Kong arts organisations which can occupy, with adaptive reuses and minimal changes, pre-existing office, library and potential exhibition spaces in the heritage buildings only makes sense if these facilities are supplemented by purpose built international quality exhibition and education/ performance spaces that will provide a broad attraction for both visitors and members of the Hong Kong public and will ensure that the highest quality of exhibitions and events can be presented.