More than 32,000 people attended inaugural Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo (HKPAX), which brought together arts leaders and practitioners from over 60 countries and regions. This October, the citywide arts event is set to return on an even larger scale.
The second HKPAX will take place from Oct. 9 to 13, featuring dance, music, theatre, Chinese opera and cross-media performances. The Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC), the organizer of the event, held a launch ceremony on May 14 attended by prominent figures including Kenneth Fok and Wong Cho-lam.
Reflecting on the success of the inaugural edition, Kenneth Fok — Chairman of the HKADC and a member of Hong Kong's Legislative Council — said the 2024 expo attracted more than 1,600 arts leaders and industry professionals to HK, with total participation exceeding 32,000 when audiences and exhibitors were included.
However, Fok stressed that the real significance of the expo went beyond numbers. According to him, the event created substantial opportunities for professional exchange, partnership discussions and even potential international touring collaborations.
Speaking to the media, Fok said HK's first "Five-Year Plan" for arts and cultural development is vital in helping local arts practitioners gain greater international visibility. He noted that many cultural projects are currently supported by the government and the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, which provides a strong foundation. "This is a good foundation, but how do we bring more private sector organizations to the table? That is extremely important," he said.
Fok also revealed that this year's expo will introduce a special university student programme with affordable ticket pricing, allowing aspiring young arts professionals to connect directly with programme buyers and arts management representatives.
"If the students have passion for this industry, they can come into contact with program buyers and group management—these opportunities,"he said. "We hope to deliver them to students' hands, and it very much aligns with the spirit of the Five-Year Plan."
He also highlighted a production showcased at last year's expo that blended traditional Chinese opera with a distinctly HK style, leaving international buyers impressed. "We hope we can carve out a niche market here," he added.
Chris Ip, Vice-Chairman of the HKADC, said international interest in the second edition has surged dramatically.
"For the international premium segment in the second edition, applications increased from over 400 in the previous year to, this time including arts organizations, directly surpassing 1,000—doubling it! First of all, it sends a signal: in the international market, arts troupes across different countries have confidence in HK," he said.
Pheon Tsang, Chief Executive Officer of the HKADC, said the long-term goal is to transform HKPAX into a citywide cultural celebration rather than simply an industry marketplace.
"If you're an ordinary citizen or a tourist, and you don』t buy a pass, you can still go enjoy the atmosphere and have fun outside the Cultural Centre. We want it to be more than just a trading platform—it should be a citywide party where the public, visitors, and even passers-by can all join in." She hopes this big event will draw large numbers of visitors into HK, injecting fresh momentum into the economy. "We hope they all come to HK!"
Ahead of the official opening, a four-day prelude programme from Oct. 6 to 9 will be open to the public free of charge. Other activities include international showcase performances, project pitching sessions, industry dialogues, networking events, cultural experiences and a Greater Bay Area performing arts tour.
Meggy Cheng, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Dance Company, also spoke about new ways of engaging younger audiences through short-form video platforms.
She pointed out that short videos are an incredibly valuable promotional tool, especially on mainland social media platforms. She also said that young audiences today are interested not only in polished stage performances, but also in the authentic stories, emotions and hard work behind the creative process.
Registration for expo passes and exhibition booths is now open. Early-bird registration closes on July 17, while tickets for public programmes will go on sale in mid-August. Free prelude events will run from Oct. 6 to 9, with the main expo taking place from Oct. 9 to 13.
(Reporter: Lynn Zhou; Video filming: Jack Wang; Video editing: Ian Lau)
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