Artists gather for month-long Hong Kong Arts Festival

Global Business

Hong Kong has kicked off its annual Arts Festival. The celebrations will last more than a month from February 16 to March 18.

Hundreds of international and local artists are gathering in the special administrative region. They will present performances in all genres and hold various interactive activities.

CGTN’s Mao Dan reports from Hong Kong.

Every year from February to March, Hong Kong is submerged in an artistic atmosphere in the most abundant way.

The city’s annual Arts Festival boasts a unique calendar, with dance, music, chamber opera, theater and films staged both day and night.

The Hong Kong Arts Festival is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year.

In the coming month, more than 1,600 local and international artists will gather in the city for a variety of events and present over 100 performances.

“Over the 45 years, we’ve worked with some 70 countries and regions. One of the great things of the Festival is its diversity and range. We are also doing very cutting-edge, small-scale, contemporary works,” Tisa Ho, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival said.

Under the theme “In the Moment,” this year’s festival will host acclaimed artists from around the world.

It will also feature special programs to mark the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China.

“We take inspiration from the One Belt and One Road Initiatives. The concert that opens the Festival is from Turkey, a very important part in this route. The last work in the celebration series is a new work, a contemporary opera written based on the Dream of the Red Mansion. It’s an opera sung in English but based on a very traditional Chinese story,” Ho said.

In addition, an array of festival plus activities will be held to connect artists with their audiences. These include backstage visits, exhibitions and meet-the-artist sessions, all intended to enrich the cultural life of the city’s residents as well as its visitors.