The Government announced today (December 8) that the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, has appointed Tan Dun as the Ambassador for Cultural Promotion for a period of five years with effect from January 1, 2023.  @¡
 
     Tan is an internationally renowned Chinese composer, musician and conductor, and was appointed by the UNESCO as a Goodwill Ambassador in 2013. He is currently dean of the Bard College Conservatory of Music in New York and an honorary artistic director of the China National Symphony Orchestra. Tan has been promoting the messages of peace and green environment throughout the years. His music has made an indelible mark on the world's music scene, which earned him many prestigious honours, including the Grammy Awards, the Academy Awards and the Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale. He has led some of the world's most esteemed orchestras, and composed more than 100 musical works over the years. In 2021, Tan was presented with an honorary doctorate by the Education University of Hong Kong.
 
     As the Ambassador for Cultural Promotion, Tan will initiate large-scale arts projects in Hong Kong and invite local artists to participate with a view to promoting international cultural exchanges and co-operations. He will also help establish platforms for young artists in Hong Kong to equip them with global perspectives through in-person mentorship or promoting exchanges and collaborations among local tertiary institutions. In addition, Tan will take part in international conferences to showcase the city's unique blend of Chinese and Western cultures, as well as to promote Chinese culture and to tell good stories of Hong Kong.
 
     Addressing at today's appointment ceremony, Mr Kevin Yeung said that to tie in with the strategy of the National 14th Five-Year Plan that supports Hong Kong to develop itself into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, the Government was committed to promoting the development of arts and culture in the city. The appointment of Tan as the Ambassador for Cultural Promotion was an important step towards this goal.
 
     Mr Yeung added that with Tan's rich network and experience, he can bring together outstanding talent from home and abroad to perform in Hong Kong, thereby promoting cultural exchanges and broadening the horizons of local artists, and, at the same time, demonstrating Hong Kong's cultural soft power as well as its unique artistic status and advantages to the world.
 
     Tan said that he was deeply honoured to be appointed as the Ambassador of Cultural Promotion. "To me, Hong Kong is one of the most multicultural cities. Exchange of different kinds of culture is flourishing in this metropolis, where East meets West. I hope to share this message with my friends and fellow artists in every city that I am going to visit, so that they can understand more about Hong Kong, and even come here to witness its beauty and to get rich and powerful inspiration. I also look forward to connecting with the young people in Hong Kong, enjoying its multiculturalism and exploring new resources of creativity and innovation together," he said.
 
     After the ceremony, Tan spoke on his decades of relationship with Hong Kong and his vision for the city's cultural development. He also revealed his future collaboration plans, and introduced an upcoming arts project, "Tan Dun's Sound Vision in Chi Lin Nunnery", which will be held from December 3 to 11 in Hong Kong. The project consists of several programmes, including immersive live performances, a sound garden, talks and demonstrations as well as an exhibition, making full use of Chi Lin Nunnery's complex and outdoor spaces to create a unique artistic atmosphere. Tan has specially invited a number of local young musicians and dancers to participate in the Hong Kong premiere of "Purity . Transcendence" - Immersive Operas in the Courtyard of Chi Lin Nunnery on December 10 and 11. The programme will also offer members of the public a chance to experience the beauty of Chinese culture in a novel and artistic way. For more information about "Tan Dun's Sound Vision in Chi Lin Nunnery", please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/theatre/programs_1452.html.

Ends/Thursday, December 8, 2022
Issued at HKT 15:45

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