Editorial | Blueprint paves way for a thriving arts hub in Hong Kong
Apart from the government road map, concerted efforts are needed to enable Hong Kong to play to its fullest strength as a capital of creativity
Arts and culture are not just colourful fabrics of city life. Backed by sound policy and infrastructure support, they can develop into soft power and an industry driving new economic growth.
The development blueprint released by the Hong Kong government marked a step forward in consolidating the city’s positioning and maximising the potential of local arts, culture and creative industries.
Covering as many as 71 measures, the road map focuses on promoting Chinese culture; developing diverse creative industries; building an international platform for cultural exchanges; and refining the ecosystem for creative industries.
It also aligns with the mandate from Beijing’s 14th five-year development plan for Hong Kong to become an “East-meets-West” arts and cultural hub; and foster a vibrant industry with more job opportunities for youngsters.
The development drive comes with lofty targets. It is envisaged that the creative industries could generate an extra 66 per cent in economic benefits, rising from HK$120 billion in 2022 to HK$200 billion by 2034. The number of jobs generated is also expected to rise from 220,000 to 264,000 during the period.
The authorities stopped short of offering additional money at this stage. Instead, a shake-up of the funding mechanism for arts groups is under way, in what officials say is a way to effectively utilise limited resources to better support the industry.
