West Kowloon in for bumper season

The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority will organize more than 700 performances and events for its performing arts season till June, with Hong Kong Palace Museum director Louis Ng Chi-wah insisting that visitors would pay for high-quality exhibitions.

The shows will span xiqu, music, theater, dance, learning and participation, with a new Peking Opera adaptation to mark Xiqu Centre's fifth anniversary.

Yesterday's indication of a greatly expanded season comes after chairman Henry Tang Ying-yen said Thursday the financially-strapped authority had been cutting costs that he characterized rather graphically as "rivers of blood."

Tang further said available capital would be exhausted by March 2025, and by then the museum and M+ can no longer organize more shows.

"The museum needs to maintain normal operations and make sustainable planning on heritage conservation, exchange events and talent training. These all require a lot of financial support," Ng said yesterday after a bi-city youth leadership program.

Ng's optimism on blockbuster shows stemmed from the Cartier and Women exhibition that ended on August 14 with more than 220,000 visitors.

"The increase in ticket prices can help sustain the quality of exhibitions. The cost of organizing large exhibitions is high," he said, adding cultural activities and international exchanges need stable finances.

The museum will sell cultural and creative products to open up new income streams and sponsorship opportunities, rather than relying on just the government.

Ng added the museum will review ticket fees frequently and support grassroot groups, which includes reserving 10 percent of tickets for non-profits for distribution to low-income families.

Beijing's Palace Museum executive deputy director Lou Wei said that apart from subsidizing museum finances, sales of cultural and creative products also promote history and culture to visitors.

The two palace museums, he said, are like "brothers," and there will be more talent exchange programs.

"Beijing Palace Museum is a distinctive ancient architecture where people come to see antiques and interior paintings, while the Hong Kong museum is a new building. Both [museums] have their own strengths, and they can learn from each other."