EdUHK Establishes GBA Cantonese Opera Development Alliance
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) announced today (10 December) the establishment of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Cantonese Opera Development Alliance. Comprising 14 members from academic institutions, organisations and bodies, the Alliance aims to forge close collaboration among GBA counterparts; foster academic, cultural and arts exchange, and promote the preservation of Cantonese opera through its connections with the world. The University’s Research Centre for Transmission of Cantonese Opera (RCTCO) will serve as the secretariat.
Today’s event also featured the day-long GBA Cantonese Opera Transmission and Development Symposium 2022. Organised by the RCTCO, the Department of Cultural and Creative Arts of EdUHK, and the Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon Cultural District, the event was supported by the China Quyi Artists Association Hong Kong Member Branch and funded by the Cantonese Opera Development Fund.
Officiating at today’s event were Ms Peng Jie, Secretary General of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Hong Kong Member Association; Mr Raistlin Lau-chun, Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism; Ms Sarah Wong Man-yee, Vice President (Administration) of EdUHK, and Dr Frankie Yeung Wai-shing, Chairman of the Xiqu Centre Advisory Panel. On the same occasion, Professor John Lee Chi-kin, EdUHK Vice President (Academic) and Provost, read out the “Declaration of Cantonese Opera Development in the GBA”, pledging the members’ determination to promote the transmission of Cantonese opera.
Mr Raistlin Lau-chun, said, “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government attaches great importance to the development of Cantonese opera and fosters its development in various ways to passing on, researching and promoting this art form. The Government set up the Cantonese Opera Development Fund in 2005 to support projects and activities related to the development of Cantonese opera. The Fund not only provides support to Cantonese opera performances projects, professional training and audience building, it also supports projects related to research and preservation, the promotion of Cantonese opera in schools and communities, as well as the facilitation of cultural exchange.”
Ms Sarah Wong Man-yee said, “EdUHK is committed to promoting Cantonese opera culture through the advancement of learning and teaching, as well as knowledge dissemination. The Alliance will herald a new chapter for the promotion and preservation of Cantonese opera and Chinese culture around the world, in line with the 14th Five-Year Plan of developing Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.”
An array of scholars, Cantonese opera artists and practitioners, and other related professionals in Hong Kong and mainland China were invited to share their insights on topics such as ‘Professional Training’, ‘Audience Building’, ‘School and Community Education’, ‘Cultural Exchange’ and ‘Government Policy and Support’.
Among the speakers were Ms Ni Huiying, President of The Promotion Society of Guangdong Opera; Ms Zhang Jinqiong, Vice President, Guangdong Cantonese Opera Institute; Mr Chu Chan-wa, Executive Vice President of the Chinese Opera Artists (Macau) Association; Mr Hong Linfu, Deputy Director of the Drama Department at Guangdong Dance and Drama College; Professor Wang Zhaoxia, Vice Dean of the School of Music at South China Normal University; Ms Zheng Min, Executive Director of the Excellent Traditional Culture (Cantonese Opera) Inheritance base of Ordinary Colleges and Universities of the Ministry of Education, Xinghai Conservatory of Music; Mr Yuen Siu-fai, renowned Cantonese opera maestro; Professor Fredric Mao Chun-fai, Director of Performing Arts Asia; Dr Frankie Yeung Wai-shing, Chairman of the Xiqu Centre Advisory Panel, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority; Professor Martin Lau, Dean of the School of Chinese Opera at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts; and Professor Leung Bo-wah, Director of the RCTCO.
For more details about the event, please visit the symposium website:
https://www.eduhk.hk/rctco/ch/gba_symposium.php
GBA Cantonese Opera Development Alliance Members:
Mainland partners
• Shunde Education Development Centre
• Foshan Cantonese Opera Troupe
• Excellent Traditional Culture (Cantonese Opera) Inheritance base of Ordinary Colleges and Universities of the Ministry of Education, Xinghai Conservatory of Music
• School of Music, South China Normal University
• Guangzhou Opera House
• Liwan District Youth Palace
• The Promotion Society of Guangdong Opera
• Guangdong Cantonese Opera Institute
• Guangdong Dance and Drama College
Macau partners
• Chinese Opera Artists (Macau) Association
Hong Kong partners
• Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District
• Centre for Chinese Music Studies, Department of Music, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Research Centre for Transmission of Cantonese Opera, The Education University of Hong Kong (Alliance Secretariat)
• School of Chinese Opera, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
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EdUHK Establishes GBA Cantonese Opera Development Alliance
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