| Hong Kong Arts Development Council | |
| Native Name: | 香港藝術發展局 |
| Type: | Statutory body |
| Headquarters: | Tai Koo Quarry Bay Hong Kong Island |
| Chief1 Name: | Dr Wong Ying-wai, Wilfred |
| Chief1 Position: | Chairman |
| Chief2 Name: | Lee Wai-man, Maurice |
| Chief2 Position: | Vice Chairman |
| Keydocument1: | Hong Kong Arts Development Council Ordinance, Chapter 472 |
| Order: | ts |
| T: | 香港藝術發展局 |
| S: | 香港艺术发展局 |
| Y: | Hēung góng ngaih seuht faat jín guhk |
| J: | Hoeng1 gong2 ngai6 soet6 faat3 zin2 guk6 |
| P: | Xiānggǎng Yìshù Fāzhǎn Jú |
The Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) is a statutory body in Hong Kong tasked with development of the arts in the territory. The HKADC was created in 1995, under the Hong Kong Arts Development Council Ordinance, Chapter 472, replacing the former Council of Performing Arts. It advises the government on cultural policy for Hong Kong and allocates grants, undertakes advocacy, promotion and development, and plans programmes, in support of the arts.[1]
The administration of the HKADC is overseen by its (up to) 27 members, who are appointed by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. Of these, 10 are elected by various arts organisations (or groups of organisations), each representing an art form or aspect of art. The Council includes six standing committees: the Arts Promotion Committee, Arts Support Committee, Management Committee, Audit Committee, Review Committee and Strategy Committee, as well as a group for each of the 10 'art-forms'.[2]
Council members are appointed for three-year terms. Members appointed from 1 January 2011 are:
In late 2012, the Council began a review and consultation of the process for election of its 10 'art-form' members, after criticism that the narrow base, which excluded both individual and commercial arts practitioners, was unrepresentative.[3] As a result, the voter base for elections in late 2013 was expanded to 730 arts organisations and 1,492 individual arts workers.[4] [5]
| Office holder | Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Ho Chi-ping, | 1999–2001 | |
| 2002–2005 | [2nd term][6] [7] ophthalmologist and previous member of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society committee | |
| unknown | 2005–2007 | Appointment of chairman was delayed from usual 1 Jan[8] |
| 2008–2010 | He was later elected to the Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publication functional constituency seat in the Legislative Council 2012 election.[9] | |
| 2011–2022 | ||
| 2023–Current | ||
The Council receives annual funding of HK$87 million from the Home Affairs Bureau.
In the year ended 31 March 2012, the ADC provided funding for the arts viz: HK$4.8 million of one-year grants, HK$20.4 million of two-year grants, HK$8.4 million of (two-year) multi-project grants, and HK$14.3 million of (one-year) project grants.[10] [11]
The organisation has been criticised for lacking the executive power and resources to implement policies directly, despite its claim to 'coordinate policy and planning'.[1] [12]
In 2013, the HKADC awarded its first Critic's Prize but was promptly embroiled in controversy when the winner of the HK$50,000 award was found to have connections with at least two of the six judges.[13] The issue led to expanded criticism of the award, such as for its exclusion of English-language entries.[14]
In 2024, the HKADC pulled funding for the Hong Kong Drama Awards after supporting it for more than 20 years, accusing the show of deviating "from past practices" by inviting Wong Kei-kwan and Bao Choy at the 2023 show.[15] HKADC member Kenneth Fok said that the funding was withdrawn to "reduce the risk of potentially breaching" the national security law.
Day-to-day administration is led by a Chief Executive (formerly 'Secretary General'), appointed by the Council.
| Office holder | Office | Term | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secretary General | 1997 to 2001 | [16] | ||
| Albert Lam Chi-chiu, OBE, JP | Chief Executive | May 2001 – ?2004 | [17] [18] | |
| Jonathan Yu | Chief Executive | April 2005 – 2007 | (previously more than two decades with the KCRC)[19] | |
| Louis Yu Kwok-lit | Chief Executive | May 2007 – Oct 2011 | [20] | |
| Chief Executive | Oct 2010–present |
The HKADC produces a regular newsletter of arts news, called ArtNews, every 3–4 months.[21]