ArtAlive@Park is an artistic exploration which aims at making art accessible to all sectors of the community.

This year’s programme includes exhibitions by four local tertiary institutions custom-made for four public parks. The exhibitions feature public installation works that speak to the very unique spatial design and styles of the different parks. The School of Visual Arts of Hong Kong Baptist University explores the relationships between city dwellers and nature with an exhibition themed under wishPark. The Department of Fine Art of the Chinese University of Hong Kong works in Sha Tin Park with an attempt to revitalize it. In Dash of Time, the students hope the art works can activate the Sha Tin Park, so as to think over and present the story of the Park from the past to present. It will also overlap the images and activities of different time. The School of Design of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University presents the interactive GASP! in Kowloon Park, a poetic, humourous yet educational work that looks at sustainable energy. The Faculty of Architecture of the University of Hong Kong brings Reforming Public Space to Tuen Mun Park where they designs a landmark to attract visitors, attempting to turn it into a place that can be shared by the public.

In designated public holidays and weekends, free guided tours will be arranged for the public to learn more about each of the exhibitions. There will be free shuttle buses operating between all four parks: Hong Kong Park, Tuen Mun Park, Sha Tin Park and Kowloon Park for visitors to travel along and enjoy all the works of our up-and-coming young artists.

Other performances and creative activities are also available during the exhibition period, thanks to the curatorial collaborations of Community Art Network, City Contemporary Dance Company and Fringe Club.

Community Art Network offers a variety of activities to people of all ages and interests. Visitors will have the chance to enjoy quality story time under the sun with veteran story-teller Uncle Hung. Workout time will also be available in the Games in the Park section where visitors can take part in group games and handicrafts workshops with their families. “Sound in the Park” is a series of concerts on the green featuring local musicians and bands playing a wide array of music styles.

City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) brings environmental dance, the Hong Kong version of DELT to the parks where dancers will improvise in and interact with the environment. A good chance to take a closer look at dance indeed! The work, toured in Shanghai with critical acclaim, is conceived by Willy Tsao, Artistic Director of CCDC.

Fringe Club also adds colours to the parks with two dynamic events, Drum for Joy and BIG DANCE. The former is an open platform for people to experience the fun of percussions under the guidance of professional percussionists. More than 50 young dancers will perform in BIG DANCE for viewers to sample a wide array of dance forms such as street dance, modern dance, social dance and ethnic dance. The beat is on!