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The Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum (ACCF) 2007, organised by the Home Affairs Bureau, will be held from tomorrow (July 22) to next Wednesday (July 25). This year's theme is "Culture Coming Home", featuring issues of cultural core values and Chinese modernity, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's reunification with China.
First launched in 2003, ACCF has already established its reputation as one of the flagship cultural events of the region. In addition to cultural ministers from Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, delegations from the Ministry of Culture and various provinces and municipals of the People's Republic of China (PRC) will join the forum.
There will be a PRC delegations meeting tomorrow and an Asian cultural ministers' meeting on Monday (July 23) at Nan Lian Garden, Diamond Hill.
To engage the community on an even wider scale, there will be open forums at the Drama Theatre, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, organised around four themes: "World Creativity Summit - Launch and Public Dialogues", "Living Urban Heritage", "Culture Core Values and Chinese Modernity" and "Popular Culture".
The bureau has enlisted the support of key arts and cultural bodies internationally and locally in organising these open forums. They are the World Alliance of Arts Education, and its founding members which include the International Drama/Theatre and Education Association, the International Society for Music Education and the International Society for Education through Art; the Hong Kong Institute of Contemporary Culture; the Hong Kong Institute of Architects; the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers; the Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects; the Hong Kong Institute of Planners; the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors; the Chinese Civilisation Centre, the City University of Hong Kong; and the Centre for Cultural Policy Research, the University of Hong Kong.
To tie in with the topic "Popular Culture", an evening performance will be staged at Yau Ma Tei Community Centre Rest Garden on Tuesday (July 24). It is the first time that a function of ACCF has been taken outdoors. The development of popular songs in the 30s and 40s to Cantopop in the 80s reflects the changes that Hong Kong has undergone in the last few decades. The audience can relish these songs again in a venue which is so rich in local culture.
For further details about ACCF, please visit its website at http://www.accfhk.org, or call 2559 9973 for enquiries.
Ends/Saturday, July 21, 2007
Issued at HKT 11:00
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