"Stories in the Park" and "Drum for Joy" to energise public parks
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     Following the opening of the large-scale public art project - ArtAlive@Park - a series of colourful programmes and activities will be launched at four public parks presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), starting this Saturday (January 8) and continuing until February 28.

     Under the theme "City, Community, Nature", ArtAlive@Park features four exhibitions created by four local universities. These exhibitions cater to the unique designs and styles of the four different parks, namely Hong Kong Park, Sha Tin Park, Kowloon Park and Tuen Mun Park. The participating university departments are the Academy of Visual Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU); the Department of Fine Arts, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK); the School of Design, Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Faculty of Architecture, the University of Hong Kong (HKU).

     Presented by the LCSD, the project is organised by the Art Promotion Office. Supporting organisations include the Education Bureau, Tourism Commission and Hong Kong Tourism Board, while HKBU, CUHK, PolyU and HKU have provided artistic collaboration. The Community Art Network was also invited to act as curatorial collaborator for the project. Programme collaborators include City Contemporary Dance Company and the Fringe Club. Fotanian, Hong Kong Art Walk and JCCAC Artist Village are network collaborators.

     The Community Art Network, City contemporary Dance Company and the Fringe Club have been invited to organise a series of performances and activities to be held in the four parks during the exhibition period, to coincide with the art projects. Performances include "Stories in the Park", "Games in the Park", "Sound in the Park", Site-specific Dance Gala: "DELT", "Drum for Joy", and "BIG DANCE". All activities are free and offer visitors an opportunity for relaxation, entertainment and pleasure.

     The first activity, to be launched this weekend, is "Story in the Parks". Yuen Chi-hung, Uncle Hung has been storyteller since 1994 and his stories can entertain both adults and children. This winter, he invites park visitors to sit back in the soothing open air and listen to his fascinating tales. "Story in the Parks" will take place from 2.30pm to 3.30pm, at North Garden children's playground in Sha Tin Park on January 8, at Scented Garden in Tuen Mun Park on January 15, on the grass outside the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea ware in Hong Kong Park on January 22, and at the children's playground in Kowloon Park on January 29.

     Another performance, "Drum for Joy", organised by the Fringe Club, will also roll out this weekend. Famous drum artist Kumi Masunaga and other drum artists invite visitors to create a beat of their own by playing drums and other kinds of percussion instruments. The activity will take place from 3pm to 4pm, at Olympic square in Hong Kong Park on January 8, near the Pool Pavilion in Kowloon Park on January 9, at North Garden Lawn in Sha Tin Park on January 16 and at the self- entertainment zone in Tuen Mun Park on January 23.

     Anyone who love games, music and dance should not miss "Games in the Park", which guarantees fun for visitors with all sorts of group games; "Sound in the Park", which presents concerts custom-made for each of the parks; Site-specific Dance Gala: "DELT", which features dances that interact with the park environment; and "BIG DANCE", which will spread dance fever across the parks.

     In addition, there will be free public and school tours, and art shuttles taking visitors to view the various artworks in the four parks.

     For activities details of "ArtAlive@Park", please visit www.artaliveatpark.hk. For enquiries, call the Art Promotion Office of LCSD at 3101 2739 or the Community Art Network at 6717 8723 or send emails to enquiry@communityartnetwork.hk.

Ends/Thursday, January 6, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:09

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