Go to main content
 
4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival concludes (with photos)
******************************************************************************************
  The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival (the Festival) was held in the "9+2" cities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) from October 19 to November 24 last year. The Festival was jointly presented by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the People's Government of Guangdong Province and the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region. As the host city of the Festival for the first time, Hong Kong brought together over 14 000 local and Mainland cultural and arts practitioners to stage more than 770 live performances and exchange activities in Hong Kong and other cities in the GBA concurrently, and rolled out over 70 online programmes during the Festival period, attracting more than 2.16 million participants and an online viewership of some 46 million.

  The Festival, with the theme of "Integration in Diversity - Power and Possibilities", aimed to showcase the vibrant and diverse cultural richness of the GBA and foster cultural exchanges and co-operation among the GBA cities. During the Festival, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), in collaboration with municipal governments, cultural organisations and arts groups in the GBA, staged six productions in Hong Kong, namely the opening programme "Sound River", the music and multi-arts production "ChoreoMusica Soiree", the "POP KONG" concert, the Cantonese opera film "The Legend of The White Snake", the 2024 Zhuhai-Hong Kong-Macao Choral Concert "Songs Echo My Voice" and the dance drama "Wing Chun" Special Edition. The performances attracted more than 17 000 audience members in total with an average attendance rate of over 94 per cent. The "Sound River" also attracted a live broadcast viewership of about 2.6 million, showcasing the achievements of the in-depth exchanges between Hong Kong and other GBA cities

  To broaden the audience reach and promote cultural diversity in the GBA, some of the above-mentioned programmes, such as the "POP KONG" concert and the dance drama "Wing Chun" Special Edition, also featured chit-chat sessions for students, which attracted nearly 3 000 teachers and students to participate in a total of six sessions. Teachers attending the programmes considered it a precious learning opportunity for their students to join these large-scale performing arts programmes, while some students were very excited to be able to interact closely with outstanding performers. The LCSD also arranged an extension activity in a large shopping mall. Some of the participants were very pleased with the arts and cultural activities reaching out to the community, and considered that such an approach could help promote Hong Kong's arts and cultural scene in the city to the public and tourists. 

  The LCSD has been collaborating with arts organisations in the GBA to nurture young Hong Kong artists through the Festival's platforms. A good example is Huang Danyang, a graduate from the School of Dance of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), who shone at an audition carried out by the LCSD, the HKAPA and the Shenzhen Opera and Dance Theatre, and was selected to take part in the dance drama "Wing Chun" Special Edition. Huang has been subsequently employed by the Theatre to join its touring performances for the next three years to gain more performance experience.

  The two-day Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Symposium 2024 attracted over 600 arts and cultural professionals from Hong Kong and other GBA and Mainland cities to share and explore the latest emerging trends of arts and cultural developments in the region. Many participants noted that the Symposium had provided effective communication platforms for the industry players to conduct comprehensive discussions and explore opportunities of collaboration, and jointly promote exchanges and the integration of arts and culture in the GBA. 

  In terms of exhibitions, public libraries in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao organised the "Heritage and Inclusion: Literary Treasures of the Greater Bay Area" exhibition in November last year. Through precious historical documents and information of the three places, the exhibition aimed to enhance public understanding of the cultural connections and developments of the regions. Now underway, the "Celebrating National Day - Auspicious Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Greater Bay Area" exhibition introduces selected intangible cultural heritage (ICH) items from 11 GBA cities. During the exhibition period, various demonstrations and experiential activities are organised to enable members of the public to experience the excellent ICH craftsmanship of the GBA. The exhibition is currently being staged at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and will run until March 31. 

  Through the Festival, the LCSD also brought to the GBA cities 11 high-quality cultural products from Hong Kong in different forms and styles, covering music, dance, multi-arts, Cantonese opera, an ink painting exhibition, etc. Local jazz musician Teriver Cheung, who participated in the "Guangzhou Jazz Music Festival" and the "Macao International Music Festival", expressed his great pleasure to have the opportunity to collaborate with musicians from other GBA cities to promote arts development in the GBA for creating a more fascinating cultural scene.

  During the Festival period, participants' views were collected through questionnaires. Over 90 per cent of the respondents indicated that they had enjoyed the activities of the Festival, and will continue to participate in the coming year. The LCSD expressed gratitude to the local cultural sector, as well as the municipal governments, cultural organisations and arts groups of various GBA cities for their unwavering support in organising and promoting the 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival, which has made the Festival a great success. The Government of the HKSAR looks forward to continuing to join hands with the "9+2" cities in the GBA to showcase the colours of humanity and the rich arts and cultural essence that come from the same roots. Such an approach will also help promote the cultural characteristics of the Lingnan legacy, strengthen arts and cultural exchanges and co-operation in the GBA, as well as promote traditional Chinese culture. 

  For more information about the Festival, please visit www.gbacxlo.gov.hk/en.
 
Ends/Friday, January 24, 2025
Issued at HKT 11:30
NNNN
Today's Press Releases  

Photo

The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival was held in the "9+2" cities in the Greater Bay Area from October 19 to November 24 last year. Photo shows a scene from the opening programme "Sound River". The programme was held on October 19 last year at the Hong Kong Coliseum. Under the baton of Tan Dun, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival Orchestra, comprising members from the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, and Macao Orchestra, performed the world premiere of the production.
The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival was held in the "9+2" cities in the Greater Bay Area from October 19 to November 24 last year. Photo shows the performers of the opening programme "Sound River", including (from second left) Mainland celebrated singer Zhou Shen, percussionist Rong Chenchu, conductor Tan Dun and indigenous singer Wuyuntana.
The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival was held in the "9+2" cities in the Greater Bay Area from October 19 to November 24 last year. Photo shows a scene of the "ChoreoMusica Soiree". This programme was co-presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Xinghai Concert Hall, with local renowned cross-disciplinary artist Tsang Man-tung as the artistic director. Young Hong Kong dancers joined hands with the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra’s chamber music ensemble to create a cross-genre journey that blended music with dance and imagery.
The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival was held in the "9+2" cities in the Greater Bay Area from October 19 to November 24 last year. Photo shows the artistic director of "ChoreoMusica Soiree", Tsang Man-tung (first row, centre), with local young dancers, the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra’s chamber music ensemble and performance staff.
The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival was held in the "9+2" cities in the Greater Bay Area from October 19 to November 24 last year. Photo shows local singer-songwriter Zino Chan (first left) and rising Mainland singer-songwriter Haibhue (middle) performing at the "POP KONG" concert. Co-presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the AC Orange Co Ltd, this programme featured local and Guangdong music creators performing their original compositions to audiences.
The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival was held in the "9+2" cities in the Greater Bay Area from October 19 to November 24 last year. Photo shows Hong Kong celebrated singer-songwriter Phil Lam (front row, fourth right), a special guest of the "POP KONG" concert, with singer-songwriters Monkey Sit and a Bu from Hong Kong, Haibhue and Cantopop band Mover from the Mainland with audience members.
The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival was held in the "9+2" cities in the Greater Bay Area from October 19 to November 24 last year. Photo shows the main cast members of the Cantonese opera film "The Legend of The White Snake" produced by Foshan Cantonese Opera Troupe, Law Ka-ying (second left) and Li Shuqin (second right) with the director Yin Dawei (first right), sharing highlights of the film with the audience after the screening.
The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival was held in the "9+2" cities in the Greater Bay Area from October 19 to November 24 last year. Photo shows the performance members of the 2024 Zhuhai-Hong Kong-Macao Choral Concert "Songs Echo My Voice". The programme featured six choirs from Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao, namely the Chinese University of Hong Kong Chorus, the Hong Kong Children's Choir, the Show Choir Hong Kong@Red Academy, the Zhuhai Grand Theatre Children's Choir, the Zhuhai No.1 High School Starry Sky Chorus, and the Macao Youth Choir, to perform a number of familiar Chinese pop songs.
The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival was held in the "9+2" cities in the Greater Bay Area from October 19 to November 24 last year. Photo shows a 200-strong choir, under the baton of music director Ng Cheuk-yin (front, left), presenting the grand finale of the 2024 Zhuhai-Hong Kong-Macao Choral Concert "Songs Echo My Voice", a medley of classic pop hits crafted by Ng.
The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival was held in the "9+2" cities in the Greater Bay Area from October 19 to November 24 last year. Photo shows a scene from the dance drama "Wing Chun" Special Edition. This programme was co-presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Shenzhen Opera and Dance Theatre. Tickets were sold out and the programme was well-received by audiences.
The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival was held in the "9+2" cities in the Greater Bay Area from October 19 to November 24 last year. Photo shows a performer of the dance drama "Wing Chun" Special Edition from the Shenzhen Opera and Dance Theatre conducting a demonstration and exchange session for local students to enhance their understanding of Wing Chun and Chinese culture.
The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival was held in the "9+2" cities in the Greater Bay Area from October 19 to November 24 last year. Photo shows renowned Hong Kong singer George Lam (first left), lyricist Keith Chan (second left) speaking with Chang Hongji, a main cast member of the dance drama "Wing Chun" Special Edition, after the performance. Lam produced and sang the song "Wing Chun" of the same name for the programme, which enriched the context of the production.
The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival was held in the "9+2" cities in the Greater Bay Area from October 19 to November 24 last year. Photo shows Hong Kong conductor Fung Ka-hing (left) and graduate from the School of Dance of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Huang Danyang (right). The dance drama "Wing Chun" Special Edition featured a number of Hong Kong elements, including an accompaniment by local orchestra The Symphonic Pops under the baton of Fung. Huang also took part in the performance.
The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival was held in the "9+2" cities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) from October 19 to November 24 last year. Photo shows a session of the Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Symposium 2024. The two-day Symposium, organised by the International Association of Theatre Critics (Hong Kong), was held at the Ko Shan Theatre New Wing. It attracted over 600 arts and cultural professionals from Hong Kong, Macao and other GBA and Mainland cities to share and exchange the latest  experiences and emerging trends of arts and cultural developments in the GBA.
The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival was held in the "9+2" cities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) from October 19 to November 24 last year. Photo shows the "Celebrating National Day - Auspicious Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Greater Bay Area" exhibition. The exhibition, currently being staged at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, will run until March 31 and introduces selected intangible cultural heritage items from 11 GBA cities.
The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival was held in the "9+2" cities in the Greater Bay Area from October 19 to November 24 last year. Photo shows the "Heritage and Inclusion: Literary Treasures of the Greater Bay Area" exhibition. The exhibition was organised by the Hong Kong Public Libraries of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Macao Public Library under the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, the Research Center of the Guangzhou Encyclopedia and the Guangzhou Library. It was held at the Exhibition Gallery on the ground floor of the Hong Kong Central Library, and attracted over 4 600 citizens and students.