************************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Advisory Committee on Arts Development:
The Advisory Committee on Arts Development (ACAD) today (November 10) launched the fourth-round funding exercise of the Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme (ACDFS) to enhance the capacity development of promising arts groups and arts practitioners.
Speaking at the press briefing today, the Chairman of ACAD, Dr Chung Shui-ming, said, "Since the implementation of the ACDFS in 2011, a total of 48 successful applications have been selected from three rounds of the funding exercise at a total ceiling of $111 million. The applications include a wide range of quality proposals in various art forms, covering music, dance, theatre, visual arts, media arts, arts education, arts administration and multi-disciplinary arts."
The ACDFS will disburse an annual provision of approximately $30 million in the form of Springboard Grants and Project Grants.
Springboard Grants are matching grants that support arts groups in their overall development, elevating them to a higher level of professional operation. The minimum pledged income or sponsorship of arts groups is $1 million, of which not less than $250,000 has to come from non-government sponsorship and/or private donation. A 200 per cent matching grant up to a maximum amount of $3 million may be provided and the funding period may last for a maximum of two years. Successful applicants with proven performance may apply for a consecutive Springboard Grant up to a maximum amount of $4.5 million in a maximum funding period of three years. For a consecutive Springboard Grant, the minimum pledged sponsorship or income of arts groups is $1.5 million, of which not less than $375,000 has to come from non-government sponsorship and/or private donation. It is envisaged that a maximum grant of $7.5 million for two terms of support in five years will help promote the growth of an arts group.
Project Grants are direct grants which will provide arts practitioners and arts groups with funding support ranging from $800,000 to $2 million for a selected proposal to organise larger-scale and cross-year arts projects.
The press briefing was also attended by representatives of several Springboard Grantees, including the Executive Director of Premier Performances of Hong Kong, Ms Andrea Fessler; one of the Co-Artistic Directors of Yat Po Singers, Mr Yuri Ng; the Artistic Director of Musicus Society, Mr Trey Lee; the Artistic Director of Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio, Mr Tang Shu-wing; the Executive Director of Windmill Grass Theatre, Mr Edmond Tong; the Executive Director/Curator of Para Site, Mr Cosmin Costinas; and the Chairman of Hong Kong Photographic Culture Association Limited, Mr Alfred Ko. They shared their experiences of how they made use of Springboard Grants to enhance their organisations' capacity development, programme and content development, audience building and arts education. At the press briefing, Dr Chung expressed his appreciation to the grantees for their efforts in contributing to the arts development of Hong Kong by exploring different sources of funding; fostering a tripartite partnership among the Government, arts groups and the private sector; and opening a new chapter of development for themselves and fellow arts practitioners.
The fourth-round funding exercise of the ACDFS is open for application for two months from November 10 to January 9 (up to 6pm). The Guide to Application and relevant materials have been uploaded to the website of the Home Affairs Bureau (www.hab.gov.hk). Application workshops will be held in late November and details can be found on the above website. ACAD expects that the application results will be released around late May or early June next year.
Ends/Monday, November 10, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:13
NNNN
