Registration Commences for PLUS Programmes of 2016 Hong Kong Arts Festival

(Hong Kong, 15 December 2015) The Hong Kong Arts Festival announces today that registration for the PLUS programmes of the 2016 Hong Kong Arts Festival has commenced.

The 2016 Festival PLUS presents an array of outreach activities that invite members of the general public to enrich their lives through participating in arts events outside of concert halls and theatres. Participants can choose to relax and re-connect with their bodies and soul in The Zen of Meditation, clown for a day in Clowning Around, and learn how to juggle at Circus Wonderland. Cultural Walks and Journey to Yim Tin Tsai introduce participants to Hong Kong’s churches old and new, while Church Music Encounter brings participants a series of sacred music composed or arranged by Chinese composers. One can also unwind at the Gin & Jazz concert, or feel the heart race at Circa Fit. Meet-the-Artist sessions and Backstage Tours show participants the whys and wherefores that drive creative processes and bring productions to life. And those who love literature can learn more about the great Bard of Avon in Shakespeare 400 Years with Gregory Doran, "one of the great Shakespearians of his generation". Last but not least, people interested in photography can take part in the Festival’s Photography Competition themed Creativity In Action.

For more information on the above highlights as well as the full FESTIVAL PLUS programme andregistration, please visit the Festival PLUS website: www.hk.artsfestivalplus.org

Featuring 119 performances and more
Featuring over 1,400 international artists and local talents in 119 performances, the Festival will run from 19 February to 20 March 2016. The 44th HKAF Programme & Booking Guide is available at all URBTIX outlets throughout Hong Kong and the Festival Information Counters located at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Hong Kong City Hall. Programme information and ticket availability can also be found at www.hk.artsfestival.org.


About the Hong Kong Arts Festival
Launched in 1973, the Hong Kong Arts Festival (“HKAF”) is a major annual international celebration of the performing arts and one of the region’s premier cultural events. Held in February and March each year, HKAF presents over 1,400 artists in more than a dozen venues throughout Hong Kong, supplemented by about 250 Festival PLUS and arts education events.

HKAF presents the world’s top artists as well as stars of tomorrow and gives equal importance to great traditions and contemporary creations. HKAF also commissions and produces work in theatre, chamber opera and contemporary dance; some HKAF productions have toured to other Asian cities after their Hong Kong premiere.

HKAF is a non-profit organization. The estimated budget for the 2016 Festival is around HK$110 million. About 30% of its annual income comes from government funding, about 37% from the box office, and close to 32% from sponsorships and donations from corporations, individuals, and charitable foundations.

For more information, please visit: www.hk.artsfestival.org.



MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Ms Vanessa Chan, Programme Manager
Tel: 2828 4908, Email: vanessa.chan @hkaf.org