22 Beijing-Hong Kong Students Complete Eight-Week Cultural Exchange Programme
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Twin Cities Youth Cultural Talent Exchange Programme has completed its fifth edition with 22 students from Beijing and Hong Kong. Over eight weeks from July, the participants explored cultural venues across three cities—Beijing's 798 Art District, Guangzhou's Taikoo Hui, and Hong Kong's West Kowloon Cultural District—before culminating their experience with a Creative Market at the Hong Kong Palace Museum last week . The programme, a flagship youth initiative of the Hong Kong Palace Museum with Swire Properties as chief sponsor, has now engaged nearly 170 university students since its inception in 2022 .
Key Points
- The 22 participants, comprising university students from both cities, began their journey with an opening ceremony at the Palace Museum in Beijing in early July
- During the eight weeks, students visited Beijing's 798 Art District's red-brick former factories, experienced the blend of modern architecture and Lingnan culture at Guangzhou's Taikoo Hui, and drew inspiration from Hong Kong's West Kowloon Cultural District overlooking Victoria Harbour
- At the Creative Market, seven student groups showcased cultural innovation concepts focused on activating public spaces in the West Kowloon Cultural District and enhancing visitor engagement through shared experiences
- One team named the outdoor lawn of the West Kowloon Cultural District as "Exhibition Hall No. 0" and proposed hosting activities like dozing competitions combined with art reproduction to lower barriers to public art participation
- Another group designed family-friendly "energy discharge" programmes for children incorporating three core elements: child autonomy, gamified experience, and co-creation art
Why It Matters
The programme addresses Hong Kong's need to develop cultural talent pipelines as the city positions itself as an arts and culture hub following the opening of major cultural institutions. Swire Properties CEO Martin BoBN noted that cultural arts are essential for vibrant, sustainable communities, and nurturing talent behind these initiatives is equally critical for Hong Kong and the mainland's long-term creative industry development . Hong Kong Palace Museum Director Ng Chi Wa indicated that the students' creative proposals hold reference value and that the museum will explore implementing some of these ideas to empower young people with confidence to drive social change and economic development .
The programme addresses Hong Kong's need to develop cultural talent pipelines as the city positions itself as an arts and culture hub following the opening of major cultural institutions. Swire Properties CEO Martin BoBN noted that cultural arts are essential for vibrant, sustainable communities, and nurturing talent behind these initiatives is equally critical for Hong Kong and the mainland's long-term creative industry development . Hong Kong Palace Museum Director Ng Chi Wa indicated that the students' creative proposals hold reference value and that the museum will explore implementing some of these ideas to empower young people with confidence to drive social change and economic development .