Recap on Arts Leadership Talk Series by Mr Anthony Sargent CBE FRSA

Co-presented by the British Council and Hong Kong Arts Administrators Association, the Arts Leadership Talk Series by Mr Anthony Sargent CBE FRSA was successfully held on 1-2 April (Wed and Thurs). We are deeply encouraged by the participants’ enthusiasm, over 200 arts leaders and practitioners, people with an interest to set foot in the arts management and administration field and arts students attended the talk series.

Thank you very much to Mr Anthony Sargent and the respondents for the inspiring talks and discussion. We are also grateful to the many attendants for their invaluable support!

Renowned arts leader Mr Anthony Sargent CBE FRSA is the General Director of the Sage Gateshead in North East England and the Chair of the International Society for the Performing Arts. In the luncheon and two workshops, Mr Sargent shared his rich experience and insightful ideas on “Challenges and Opportunities for Arts Leaders Today”, “Creating an Exciting and Diversified Arts Facility for Audiences and Business Clients” and  “Strategies for Classical Music Audience-Building”.

Luncheon Talk: Challenges and Opportunities for Arts Leaders Today

We are delighted to have Ms Tisa Ho, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival and Mr Paul Tam, Executive Director of The Hong Kong Ballet and Chair of Hong Kong Arts Administrators Association as the respondents of the luncheon on 1 April. The arts leaders exchanged opinions and discuss issues faced by arts practitioners in this era. 

Workshop: Creating an Exciting and Diversified Arts Facility for Audiences and Business Clients

As respondents of the workshop, Ms Heidi Chu, Chief Manager (Urban/Cultural Services) of Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Mr Louis Yu, Executive Director of Performing Arts of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority contributed their ideas in discussing the relationship between arts venues and the community, the roles of arts facilities as the venue for performing arts productions and business conferences, as well as the orientation of arts education for diversified arts facilities. Participants were eager to raise questions, which greatly enriched the discussion.

Workshop: Strategies for Classical Music Audience-Building

Mr Michael MacLeod, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Philharmonic and Ms Queenie Wong, Chief Manager (Cultural Presentations) of Leisure and Cultural Services Department discussed the different perspectives in approaching the audience with Mr Sargent in this workshop. Mr Sargent made use of examples of arts organizations from different parts of the world to illustrate the variety of strategies in audience building and how technology has impacted the marketing strategies in promoting music events.