In response to the arts community’s needs for arts space, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (ADC) is actively engaged in discussions with various strategic partners to implement ADC Arts Space Scheme.
The first “ADC Artspace” in Genesis, Wong Chuk Hang was unveiled today (19 December), with Mr Tsang Tak-sing, Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Wong Ying-wai, Wilfred, Chairman of the ADC and Mr Fong Man-hung, David, Managing Director of Hip Shing Hong (Holdings) Company Ltd as the officiating guests. Also joining the unveiling ceremony included tenants of the ADC Artspace, Southern District Councillors and members of the local arts community.
At the ceremony, Dr Wong Ying-wai, Wilfred, Chairman of the ADC said, “The ADC Arts Space Scheme would not have been made possible without the concerted efforts of the government, the arts community and the business sector. ‘ADC Artspace’ is a milestone of the ADC in providing arts space for local artists. In future, we will continue to strive for more artspace through different types of collaborations.”
Mr Fong Man-Hung, David, Managing Director of Hip Shing Hong (Holdings) Company Ltd., said, “Hip Shing Hong is honoured to be the sponsoring organisation of ‘ADC Artspace’ by offering artists a rent that is below market rate at Genesis, a revitalised industrial building which provides an area of around 10,000 sq. ft. We are dedicated to promote the diversity of local arts development and cultivate more young artists in Hong Kong.”
The “ADC Artspace” is located at 12/F, Genesis, 33-35 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, opposite to the Wong Chuk Hang Station of the MTR South Island Line which will be completed in 2016. Its total floor area is about 10,254 ft2, providing 17 individual units ranging from around 300 to 1,400 ft2 for visual and media artists.
27 artists have already moved in the Artspace since this November. Among 17 arts studios, more than half of them received emerging artists rental subsidy. For the list of tenants, please visit www.artspace.hk.
The “ADC Artspace” provides creative arts studios to local visual and media artists, particularly emerging ones, to help relieve the rental pressure. The ADC in collaboration with the government succeeded in enlisting the support of Hip Shing Hong (Holdings) Company Ltd. to lease a floor of a Wong Chuk Hang commercial building at a below-market rate for the scheme. In support of this Scheme, the Home Affairs Bureau has subsidised about HK$8 million to the ADC for use in areas such as premise refurbishment, start-up and rental support for emerging artists, etc.
The leasing exercise for the first term (the first and second year) was open for application in 2013. It was well-received by the arts community with more than 70 applications. At the same time, an “Emerging Artists Rental Subsidy Scheme” was introduced by the ADC to provide 50% rental subsidy to emerging artists who graduated not more than 3 years for a maximum of two years to encourage their artistic development. However, tenants are still required to pay the operation fee.
The Scheme is tentatively scheduled for six years, with each tenancy term lasting for two years. The rent for the first leasing term (the first and second year) is HK$5.5/ft2, plus the operation fee at HK$2.5/ft2. The rent for the second (the third and fourth year) and third leasing term (the fifth and sixth year) will be HK$6.5/ft2 and HK$8/ft2 respectively. The operation fee for the second and third leasing term is yet to be confirmed. Tenants are encouraged to form a Tenants Committee to participate in the operation of the Artspace.
