【Hong Kong｜23 October, 2024】The global creative economy is thriving, presenting an appealing business opportunity. How can Hong Kong capitalize on this potential and solidify its position on the world stage? Dr. Wilfred Wong, G.B.M., G.B.S., J.P., Chairman, Hong Kong Arts Development Fund Advisory Committee, addressed this question alongside representatives from teamLab and the World Economic Forum (WEF) : Mr. Takuya TAKEI, Team member of teamLab and Mr. Joseph FOWLER, Head of Arts and Culture, World Economic Forum, at a media briefing held at the Hong Kong Palace Museum on October 14. The event, moderated by Senior Art and Culture Advisor, Mr. Heiman Ng, served as a forward-looking discussion session to the 5th International Arts Leadership Roundtable and the inaugural Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo (HKPAX 香港演藝博覽).
A Decade of Dedication Ushers in a New Chapter for Arts Development
Dr. Wilfred Wong traced the evolution of the International Arts Leadership Roundtable over the past decade, highlighting Hong Kong’s increasing commitment to the arts, culminating in the launch of HKPAX. “Hong Kong acts as a bridge between East and West, and we have a responsibility to drive the development of arts and culture within the Greater Bay Area,” he stated. “The Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) strives to provide a world-class platform for artistic exchange, enabling Hong Kong to serve as a prominent showcase for global talent.” Through diverse exhibitions and programmes, all the events aims to fuel the growth of Hong Kong’s arts sector, fostering collaboration between local and international artists and establishing itself as a cornerstone of the Hong Kong’s arts and cultural ecosystem. This initiative actively stimulates the creative economy and reinforces Hong Kong’s status as an international cultural hub.
“The essence of the arts lies in sharing,” Dr. Wong emphasized. “As we welcome more international audiences to experience Hong Kong’s artistic landscape, our cultural influence will expand significantly.” Building on the Roundtable’s legacy, the first HKPAX attracted considerable international attention, drawing industry professionals and facilitating cross-sector collaboration and the exchange of ideas. This platform propels Hong Kong artists onto the global stage while bringing the world’s finest artistic creations to the city, demonstrating Hong Kong’s enduring dedication to the arts and its pivotal role in international cultural exchange.
Hong Kong: Capturing the Trillion-Dollar Creative Economy Market
According to data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), global exports of creative services reached $1.4 trillion in 2022, with the total value of creative goods amounting to $713 billion, marking increases of 29% and 19% respectively since 2017. Facing such a vast market, how can Hong Kong seize the opportunity? Dr. Wilfred Wong pointed out that Hong Kong was uniquely positioned to develop the creative economy due to its international status, its role as a financial hub, and government support policies for the creative industries. He cited the International Arts Leadership Roundtable and the inaugural Performing Arts Expo as examples: “The Roundtable, which was started ten years ago, has laid the foundation for Hong Kong as an international hub for cultural and artistic exchanges. It has garnered support for HKPAX from the business community and attracted numerous foreign arts groups to Hong Kong. This demonstrates how business thinking and models can be applied to the development of the creative industries, fostering the integration of the creative economy with business to generate greater economic benefits.”
Technology Empowers the Arts: Expanding Boundaries, Limitless Possibilities
The integration of technology has infused new vitality into the development of the arts. Dr. Wong believed that the role of technology in the arts extended beyond simply defining what was “art” or “no art”. Instead, it continuously expanded the possibilities of the arts. The impact of technology on artistic creation, dissemination, and experience was profound. It not only provided artists with new tools and mediums but also creates new forms of art and experiences, such as new media art and immersive artistic experiences. “Previously, artists relied on tactile skills to create moving works, but now they can use big data analysis and new technologies to assist in their creation; take the film industry, for example. Multimedia art is incredibly powerful now; scenes that were once impossible to capture can now be brought to life on the big screen with digital technology,” he explained. He encourages artists to embrace and harness new technologies to expand the boundaries of art and provoke public rethinking of what arts could be.
World Economic Forum(WEF): Fostering Cross-Sector Collaboration for Sustainable Social Development
Mr. Joseph FOWLER — Head of Arts and Culture, World Economic Forum, shared how the WEF leverages arts and cultural programs to enhance the quality of life, promote well-being, and foster a sense of community and belonging globally. He remarked that the WEF facilitated global exchanges among creators and brought cultural voices to the decision-making table through its organization of arts and cultural events.
He further highlighted Hong Kong’s enormous potential in developing the creative economy: “Hong Kong boasts rich cultural facilities and excellent infrastructure, and its prime geographical location bridges the East and West. Coupled with a strong business community, using arts and culture as a bridge fosters ongoing interactions between the commercial and cultural communities, thereby linking the arts and business sectors and enhancing the development of its creative economy.”
Mr. Fowler shared details about their recent project, the “Global Collaboration Village,” which extended the WEF’s influence digitally. This Metaverse platform provided a diverse space for discussions, bringing arts and cultural activities into the virtual world to foster global cooperation and communication. Utilizing immersive technology, the platform empowered decision-makers and other stakeholders to address challenges brought about by climate change through coexistence, real-time interaction, and dynamic visualization. This initiative showcases effective cross-sector collaboration models in cooperation with non-cultural sectors and the arts community. Mr. Fowler encouraged Hong Kong to draw on these experiences to integrate creative and commercial projects, creating greater value.
teamLab: Pioneering Immersive Experiences at the Forefront of the Arts, Technology, and the Creative Economy
Mr. Takuya TAKEI — Team member of teamLab, expressed his pleasure on his first visit to Hong Kong since the pandemic, bringing insights into the team’s latest project, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi. During the session, he elaborated on the concept of “environmental phenomena”, which illustrated how teamLab used digital technology to create immersive and interactive art experiences that blurred the boundaries between art, science, technology, and nature, prompting audiences to rethink their relationship with the world and time. “This artwork and landmark are not standalone entities; they are phenomena created by the environment, allowing audiences to immerse themselves in the experience,” he explained.
The architectural design of teamLab Phenomena also embodied the concept of “environmental phenomena.” Instead of imposing an experience on a predefined space, the design integrated seamlessly from the inside out and vice versa, blending the architecture with the experience. Its exterior, devoid of specific symbolic meanings and ever-changing like clouds, connects the ambiguous inner and outer forms through its shell, creating a unique architectural presence.
Mr. Takuya TAKEI shared that teamLab now consisted of about a thousand members, approximately 70% of whom were engineers, with 15% being animators and designers, and the rest specializing in photography, videography, management, music composition, public relations and promotion. “Our interdisciplinary team embodies the cross-disciplinary integration and knowledge consolidation emphasized by the creative economy. By creating immersive, interactive digital art experiences, we allow audiences to perceive art physically, breaking the boundaries of traditional art and creating new forms of art.”
He further shared that teamLab’s case benefitted greatly from its innovative business model. Unlike traditional artists who relied on intermediaries such as museums or galleries, teamLab autonomously controlled the entire process from creation, exhibition, promotion, to ticket sales, and directly engaged with consumers. This model was not solely reliant on selling merchandise but primarily sustains itself through ticket sales as the main source of revenue. The substantial visitor numbers to teamLab Borderless and teamLab Planets in Tokyo, which were respectively 1.5 million and 2.4 million, powerfully demonstrated the viability of this model and the immense market demand, also validating the commercial potential of the creative economy.
“In an era of technological explosion, ‘our goal is to create art that people can experience firsthand, using their bodies to perceive the world. This is why it is necessary for viewers to purchase tickets to enter,'” Mr. Takuya described this arts experience combined with a sustainable economic model, making the art experience itself a valuable consumption, indicating that the creative economy had great potential to support the sustainable development of Hong Kong’s economy.
Mr. Takuya TAKEI added that Hong Kong also has great potential to develop its creative economy and hoped to see Hong Kong’s creative industries shine further on the international stage.
Hong Kong Arts Development Council: Driving Artistic Growth to Establish Asia’s Creative Capital
In the Policy Address delivered on 16 October, Mr. John KC Lee, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, further elaborated on Hong Kong’s vision to become an international cultural hub. The “Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development” outlines four major directions for development: promoting diverse and international cultural and artistic development, promoting Chinese culture, enhancing cultural and artistic exchanges between China and other countries, and advancing the industrialization of these sectors. Mr Kevin YEUNG Yun-hung, GBS, JP, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, also expressed the commitment to continue enhancing Hong Kong’s role as a center for cultural and artistic exchange between China and the world, aiming to solidify Hong Kong’s position as an international travel hub.
Mr Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, JP, the Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, stated that the Council will continue to support artists in exploring new art forms and expressions. By creating platforms that integrate art with technology and business, the Council aims to promote the diversified development of Hong Kong’s arts. Additionally, Hong Kong will leverage its rich cultural infrastructure, comprehensive facilities, and geographical advantage as a bridge between East and West to attract more international artists and audiences, striving to become the creative capital of Asia.
Mr. Fok emphasized, “The International Arts Leadership Roundtable and the Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo are not just flagship platforms for art leaders, practitioners, and enthusiasts from around the world to explore, experience, and exchange innovative ideas and works; they also expand Hong Kong’s collaborations with the global performing arts community and solidify its role on the international stage.”
About the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC):
Established in 1995, Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) is a statutory body set up by the Government to support the broad development of the arts in Hong Kong. Its major roles include grant allocation, policy and planning, advocacy, promotion and development, and special projects.
About the Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo (HKPAX):
The Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo aims to foster cultural exchange between Hong Kong and the rest of the world and promote the development of performing arts in Hong Kong. Its manifest goals include bringing arts professionals from China and worldwide together in Hong Kong to experience the city’s unique culture and thriving performing arts landscape.
About the World Economic Forum (WEF):
Established in 1971 as a not-for-profit foundation,The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. It provides a global, impartial and not-for-profit platform for meaningful connection between stakeholders to establish trust, and build initiatives for cooperation and progress.
For more information, please visit: https://www.weforum.org/
About Mr. Joseph FOWLER:
As the Head of Arts and Culture at the World Economic Forum, Mr. Fowler has over 20 years of experience as an artistic director, cultural planner, and producer. With his innovative professional identity and unique vision, he has become a dynamic cultural leader. Before joining the World Economic Forum, Mr. Fowler held various leadership positions in the arts and culture sector, including, but not limited to, Resident Director of the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, Artistic Director of the Dubai Opera, Associate Director of the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in London, and Head of Opera, Arts, and Culture for Expo 2020 Dubai.
About teamLab:
teamLab (f. 2001) is an international art collective. Their collaborative practice seeks to navigate the confluence of art, science, technology, and the natural world. Through art, the interdisciplinary group of specialists, including artists, programmers, engineers, CG animators, mathematicians, and architects, aims to explore the relationship between the self and the world, and new forms of perception.
For more information, please visit: https://www.team-lab.com/
