Wire #20: HK PAX: an East-meets-West platform for international exchange

Thu 23 May 2024

Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo (HK PAX) is the newest major international arts market, taking place for the first time in October 2024. HK PAX is set to facilitate art and cultural exchange between China, including Hong Kong, and the rest of the world. Featuring international showcases and pitch sessions featuring international artistic projects, as well as expo programs and networking activities, the Hong Kong government and Hong Kong Arts Development Council see HK PAX as a platform for connection between arts institutions and practitioners from Hong Kong, mainland China and the rest of the world. It’s also an opportunity to cultivate relationships, foster collaboration and explore business and trading opportunities. Hong Kong can be seen as a gateway to Chinese and Asian cultures, not least through its proximity to the Greater Bay area, including major cities such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

This APAM Wire event invites different perspectives on this significant new market event, including from the event producers, major Hong Kong venue partners, and Australian colleagues who will attend the inaugural edition. We’ll discuss what to expect at HK PAX 2024, the cultural and geographic particularities of the Greater Bay area and its market characteristics, and how to decide whether participation in the event – either this year or in the future – could be part of your international market development strategy.

This event is now past.

Thursday 23 May 2024
15:30-17:00 NZST (Aotearoa New Zealand)
13:30-15:00 AEST (Melbourne/Sydney/Brisbane)
13:00-14:30 ACST (Adelaide/Darwin)
11:30-13:00 HKT (Hong Kong/Perth)

    OUR PANEL OF SPEAKERS

    Heidi Chu
    Heidi is the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council which is responsible for organising the Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo. Heidi started her career at the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, which manages 16 public performance venues and organises year-round programs and festivals. She has decades of experience in the arts, working in close collaboration with numerous local and international artists and arts groups, championing international touring and collaboration. She rose through the ranks to become a chief manager in 2014 overseeing the organisation of the International Arts Carnival and New Vision Arts Festival, as well as a series of arts education and community arts schemes. Over the years, she has also completed a series of major projects including rejuvenation of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, establishment of the Cantonese Opera Education and Information Centre at the Ko Shan Theatre and launching of the 18dArt Community Arts Scheme. Prior to joining the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Heidi was a consultant of the Hong Kong Palace Museum to support the opening of the museum.

    Kristy Ayre
    Kristy is Executive Director/co-CEO of Victoria’s flagship contemporary dance company, Chunky Move. She is an experienced arts leader with a strong interest in dance and performance, and is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts. Previous roles include Executive Producer Phillip Adams BalletLab/Temperance Hall (2015-19), Co-Producer National Dance Forum (2015) and Associate Producer Next Wave (2011-14). Kristy is a strong advocate for contemporary dance artists and practice and was co-Chair of the Green Room Awards Association Dance Panel (2016-19) and Board Member of Next Wave (2015-21). Kristy is an Australia Council for the Arts, Arts Leaders Program (2020-21) alumnus.

    Nic Clark
    Nic is Director of Nicholas Clark Management (NCM). Over the last 20 plus years, Director Nic Clark has worked as agent, producer, administrator, director and performer in the professional performing arts industry. Producing credits include numerous international, national and regional tours. Through NCM, Nic now facilitates over 250 performances annually with the select shows and artists on the roster. Nic has produced and booked tours for shows including Children are Stinky, By a Thread, Intimacy, Robot Song, Kilter, Jekyll and Hyde, Don Juan, Death of a Salesman, Werk it, Barbaroi and Rebel.

    Paul Tam
    Paul is Executive Director, Performing Arts, at West Kowloon Cultural District Authority which he joined in March 2020. He leads the Performing Arts Division to deliver world-class programmes and performing arts venues and facilities in the WKCD. He is responsible for steering the strategic planning and sustainable development of these venues, and overseeing their business direction, artistic development, venue operations, technical and production, facilities planning and delivery. Paul is a seasoned arts executive with over 20 years of experience in performing arts management. Before joining WKCDA, Paul served as Executive Director of Hong Kong Ballet, where he oversaw its strategic development, institutional advancement, brand-building, education and community outreach, and international touring. Currently, Paul is Director of the International Society for the Performing Arts, Board Member and former Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Administrators Association Governor of the Federation of Asian Cultural Promotion and Advisor for Our Hong Kong Foundation.

    Linda Yip
    Linda is the Head of Performing Arts at Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts (Tai Kwun), a role she has held since 2023. An experienced programmer and arts administrator of over two decades of experience, she has worked extensively on dance, music, opera and Chinese opera. At Tai Kwun, Linda oversees the performing arts programming including the Tai Kwun Circus Plays, one of Hong Kong’s first festivals dedicated to contemporary circus; InnerGlow, a ground-breaking architectural mapping spectacular; and SPOTLIGHT – A Season of Performing Arts, a platform to present multi-disciplinary and site-specific works from Hong Kong and around the world. Before joining Tai Kwun, she was a programmer at the Hong Kong Arts Festival where she was involved in the founding and programming of Asia Pacific Dance Platform and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Contemporary Dance Series.

    Joanna Bayndrian (Panel Facilitator)
    Joanna is Director, Public Affairs at the Australian Consulate-General in Hong Kong, advocating for Australian culture and creative partnerships in Hong Kong and Macau.