Funding cuts, cancelled shows leave Hong Kong arts groups guessing about ‘red lines’ caused by national security law
- Arts Development Council pulls support from annual awards show, Education Bureau blocks venue for theatre productions
- Arts practitioners worry about creative freedom and lack of opportunities to appeal authorities’ decisions
Hong Kong theatre veteran Octavian Chan has started work on his next drama production and said he took more care than usual to ensure it would go without a hitch.
The director admitted he was concerned about the Arts Development Council’s recent decision to pull funding for the Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies’ annual awards ceremony.
“I simply don’t want to give others the opportunity to accuse me of treading on a red line,” Chan said.
“But after this funding-cut saga, I will be even more careful in handling my creative works, in particular the form of expression and choice of words used in drama,” he said.
He emphasised that his passion for exploring a variety of life situations remained undiminished, but said controversy over the arts council’s action left him concerned about his own applications for funding.
