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The Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) will launch the first round of "Creative Market in Partnership @ HKCC" at the HKCC Piazza in mid-September with an aim of providing a platform for creative talents to showcase their works. By bringing together a diverse range of community and youth organisation partners, the scheme aims to rejuvenate the handicraft and live arts services at the HKCC, providing a platform to foster novelty and creativity. The new scheme will replace the current Arts and Crafts Fair scheme to further enhance the vibrancy of the HKCC's environs.
Creative markets started to grow some 10 years ago. At present, a number of non-profit organisations are playing an active role in running these markets in the community with good networks and satisfactory results. The Po Leung Kuk and the Boys' & Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong will launch the "Creative Market in Partnership @ HKCC" scheme in mid-September, with the HKCC providing the venue and supporting services.
The Po Leung Kuk has organised a number of successful fairs in various districts with an aim of supporting the disadvantaged, and the events have gained widespread support from the community. The Po Leung Kuk Flea Market at the HKCC, with a total of 20 fair days from September this year to June 2014 and to be held in two phases, will showcase handmade works of art and offer live painting services and interactive workshops for the public. Recruitment for around 50 operators per fair day for the first 10 days, all on Sundays from September 15 to January 19, 2014, will start in late July. Successful applicants will be able to run their stalls at a registration fee of $100 per day. Those who meet financial criteria would be subsidised and subject to a fee of only $10 per day. Interested parties can visit the website www.poleungkuk.org.hk from July 24 or call 2277 8140 for more information.
The mission of the Boys' & Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong is to help children and the youth to attain well-balanced moral, intellectual, physical, social and aesthetic development. Presented by its Jockey Club Sheung Wan Children & Youth Integrated Services Centre and co-ordinated by the Arts and Handicraftsman Association of Hong Kong, the association's Youth Handicraft Market at HKCC aims to offer a platform for young and veteran handicraft artists to display their skills, facilitate interaction and exchange of ideas on creative art with the general public, and enhance handicraft culture. The programme, comprising handicrafts and live painting stalls as well as participating workshops, will be held on two weekends on September 28 and 29 and November 30 and December 1. Applications for the two pairs of days will be accepted from August 1 onwards. Successful applicants will be able to run their stalls on either September 28 and 29 or November 30 and December 1. Interested parties can visit the website www.facebook.com/Youth.creative.market starting from August 1 and complete the application form online at www.ahahk.com or call 2850 7237 for details.
The HKCC is liaising with other experienced youth and community organisations including the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong, Fotanian and others for partnership arrangements. Some fair activities may be linked with performances with a view to offering the public diverse arts experiences. Details of the projects will be announced later.
The HKCC announced in early June the closure of the Arts and Crafts Fair after its current run in late July and will assist current handicrafts and live arts stall operators to apply for the Po Leung Kuk Flea Market and Youth Handicraft Market projects. The Arts Corner currently held at Hong Kong Park, Victoria Park and Kowloon Park of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department also offer handicrafts and arts services on Sundays and public holidays (the Arts Corner at Hong Kong Park runs on Saturdays as well). Operators of these services are welcome to apply.
For enquiries on the new scheme "Creative Market in Partnership @ HKCC", please call 2734 2009 or visit the website www.hkculturalcentre.gov.hk from July 24.
Ends/Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Issued at HKT 13:00
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