Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin’s Post

❯❮ 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞 ❯❮ The first-ever Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo (HKPAX) is about more than just the works you might see onstage. It is about the connections and exchanges of ideas that occur amidst the artistic experiences. It seems fitting then, that HKPAX is channelling the spirit Hong Kong is historically known for: being a meeting point for global cultures to come together, mingle, and explore possibilities. And from 14 to 18 October 2024, arts practitioners from around the world, together with their counterparts in Hong Kong and China, will be doing just that. HKPAX’s lineup, made up of over 60 performances and talks, looks set to offer something for everyone. The International Showcases and Pitch Sessions are opportunities for touring performances to capture a whole new audience. Meanwhile, the exciting potential for cultural exchange will be brought to life by a series of co-created performances between international and Hong Kong artists. Complementing these, is a whole slate of leadership talks, forums, and sharing sessions - all aimed at giving an overview of how the arts are evolving in various parts of the world, and what we might learn from each other. For HKPAX executive director Heidi Chu, nurturing long-lasting relationships is the ultimate aim. “We want to bridge cultures, ignite creativity, and foster meaningful connections through the arts. Our paramount mission is to create an inclusive platform where artists from around the globe can showcase the richness of diverse expressions. Together, we hope to pave the way for impactful collaborations that resonate far beyond the confines of HKPAX.” Early bird discounts for HKPAX passes and booths are available until 14 July. Click link in bio to register now! =============================== Act & Interact ❯❮ 演藝互動 Follow us 緊貼消息 ❯❮ @hkpax.official (FB/IG/Linkedin/WeChat) =============================== #HKPAX #EarlyBirdDiscount #ArtEvent #ArtExpo #CultureCollaboration #HongKongPerformingArtsExpo #culturalexchange #touring #performingarts #culturaldialogues #crosscultural

❯❮ 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐊𝐏𝐀𝐗 ❯❮ Arts presenters, festival organisers, and venue operators will be spoilt for choice at the Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo’s (HKPAX) Pitching Sessions, which feature a carefully curated set of presentations that run the gamut from VR and immersive technology to puppetry and orchestra. During the Pitching Sessions, the featured artists will be given 10 minutes to pitch their performances with supporting media, followed by a five-minute Q&A. The sessions are divided into two categories: international works, and productions from Hong Kong and mainland China, ensuring a diverse range of artistic voices. The works were narrowed down from a global open call, and the final lineup features seven international works and five local. While the sessions are open to all registered participants, what sets HKPAX apart is its targeted approach. For international pitches, expo organisers will specifically invite industry professionals from Hong Kong and mainland China, while the reverse is true for local pitches. This cross-pollination of ideas and opportunities creates a fertile ground for collaboration and cultural exchange, and a potential goldmine for those seeking fresh talent or innovative productions. For artists, it is a valuable opportunity to present their work to an audience of industry professionals, potential partners, and funders. More about Pitch Sessions’ selected projects: https://bit.ly/3zC8pUG HKPAX is on from 14 to 18 October 2024. Early bird discounts for passes and booths are available until 14 July. Click the link below to register now. https://bit.ly/3VS1IqF =============================== Act & Interact ❯❮ 演藝互動 Follow us 緊貼消息 ❯❮ @hkpax.official (FB/IG/Linkedin/WeChat) =============================== #HKPAX #EarlyBirdDiscount #ArtEvent #ArtExpo #CultureCollaboration #HongKongPerformingArtsExpo #culturalexchange #touring #performingarts #culturaldialogues #crosscultural #PitchSessions

Reflecting on my journey in organising my first public event, I am struck by the lack of infrastructure for performance art in Hong Kong. This challenge became all too real as I searched tirelessly for a venue to showcase one of the world's most renowned Shibari artists. The options were either vast spaces with daunting expectations to fill them or tiny venues that couldn't ensure financial viability. For organisers, this creates immense pressure and stifles creative potential because certain performances are niche, and we can't fill a stadium like Coldplay. If Hong Kong is serious about establishing itself as a hub for art and culture, it must invest in mid-sized venues that can nurture and support the artistic sector .These spaces are crucial for smaller organisers in breaking creative barriers and allowing artists to flourish outside the confines of large institutions. Fortunately, I was able to co-organise my event at the Mondrian Hong Kong, where we found a space that fit our needs perfectly. Interest was high, and we sold out two weeks before the event. This made me think could we have gone bigger. But the question is, where? I don't have that answer. This experience highlights a broader issue: small to mid-sized event organisers face numerous hurdles, from securing appropriate venues to navigating the complexities of artist work visas. Often, we begin promotion while the visa is being processed, which can take 4-6 weeks. The anxiety of uncertainty can lead to delaying promotion, but if left too late, tickets might not sell. Yet I won’t do an event without ensuring we comply with regulations. This visa lead time must improve for visiting artists. Simplifying processes is key. These challenges are real as I felt it. If we truly aim for art & cultural recognition, we need platforms, processes, and mid-sized venues where Hong Kong's vibrant creativity can shine on the global stage. Hong Kong has so much potential yet remains caught between extremes—too small or too big. I count myself lucky with my co-organiser. #hongkong #hongkongevents #artandculture #eventorganiser

This is a good plan (and I don't say that often) and highlights that the region should be focussing on the brownfields of Parramatta before the greenfields of far western Sydney to minimise environmental impacts of new construction and long distance travel. This plan takes advantage of the City's location and its transport assets and potentials, correctly identifying missing Metro stations (Rosehill and Silverwater) that need to be accounted for, and missing links (Parramatta to Epping) that should be high priority.

📌 #SaveTheDate The European Festivals Association, Stiftung Zukunft Berlin and A Soul for Europe are glad to announce that the Berlin Conference will take place on 7 and 8 November at the Allianz Forum, right next to the iconic Brandenburg Gate! EFA, along with festivals and festival cities and regions, will once again be key contributors. Since 2004, this conference has brought together a diverse spectrum of individuals from the arts to politics, providing a platform for collective discussion and action towards a cultural Europe. Reflecting on the words of then newly appointed President of the European Commission, José-Manuel Barroso, “The questions of what Europe can do for culture, and what culture can do for Europe, are not new. But in this context they have acquired a new sense of urgency […] What is needed now is sustainability of action – the translation of good intentions into good decisions.” Detailed information about the programme and registration links will follow soon. If you have any questions, please send an email to info@efa-aef.eu.

Ready to see the results of the TAB project's work? 🎉 We are proud to announce that we will participate in the MUSIC.DESIGN.FORM Festival 2024, which will take place at the Philharmonic Hall in Szczecin from 3 to 6 October. The festival is a true journey through music, art, design and technology - where boundaries are blurred and creativity flourishes. As part of the T.A.B project, we have prepared for you:  👉 The installation ‘Echoes of Self: Illusions in Heritage’ - with XR technology you will be transported into a world where the history of the Baltic and Wolin is intertwined with modernity.  👉 Debate ‘Art in the Future’ - we'll consider together how technology is shaping the future of art. We will talk about, among other things, the work during The Hot Summer Digital Art and Design Academy, which took place in Warsaw in the summer. ✅ The exhibition will be open from 3 to 6 October - free entry! More: https://tiny.pl/0qytx1yf See how modern technologies merge with art. Check it out below! Join us to discover what they have created: Stowarzyszenie Media Dizajn, Akademia Sztuki w Szczecinie, Klaster IT Pomorze Zachodnie, Gmina Wolin and Berlin School of Business & Innovation (BSBI). This is just the beginning, and there are still more exciting activities ahead! 😎 #EU #Interreg #SouthBaltic #SailingT #interregsouthbaltic #eufunds #sailingtogehter #tabproject #innovation

Adelaide Fringe 2024 was a massive season and it took herculean efforts from everyone to get through! Incredible numbers attended, just over 1 million ticket sold and 4.6 million attendances .. (if anyone has questions about the difference between those numbers please ask! It's quite simple, there's lots of ways to attend that doesn't involve a ticketed show) it was fantastic to see so many tourists come to Adelaide for Fringe 2024 - they bought huge numbers of tickets and spent big in local hotels and restaurants. in many ways a big triumph, but of course there is more to the story and one of the scariest elements is the fact that festival presentation costs have gone up by about 30% in the last year or so .. the ticket sales were up by around 4% (1,040,305) and the average ticket price remained the same around $33. So it doesn't take much to look at the sums and realise it is very tough to make it all balance. Lots of festivals have cancelled and closed down in recent months because of these rising costs in the supply chains. We are going to work harder than ever to try raise enough money to shore up the Fringe in future - Adelaide Fringe is a precious jewel of the nation and we need all the help we can get to survive this storm.

Berlin’s Famous Club Scene Faces the End of the Party The closing of renowned clubs Watergate and Renate spells trouble for the city’s nightlife. The techno scene owes its existence to an historical anomaly. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, there were heaps of abandoned spaces for clubbing to flourish and property was astonishingly cheap. Situated in an un-renovated, labyrinthine apartment block in the east of the city, Renate blamed its decision to close next year on rising rents and its landlord’s wish to repurpose the club’s enticing garden for new construction. Watergate’s explanation for ending its 22-year run was both more nuanced and concerning. Along with rising rent, wage and energy costs at its prime waterside location, its management pointed to shifts in the relevance of Berlin club culture for international DJs and young people: “The days when Berlin was flooded with club-loving visitors are over, at least for now, and the scene is fighting for survival.” Two-thirds of clubs rated their business prospects over the next couple of years as “bad” or “very bad,” according to a recent survey, and their revenue this year has declined by around 10% on average compared with 2023. Berlin’s nightclubs are faring better than those in the UK, where about three-quarters of venues have shut since 2005.

On June 26th, Reset! network will be having its last talk in Brussels before we go on hiatus for the summer. Another touchy topic : concentration in the cultural sector. To make it short, when you go to a couple of concerts or mega festivals this summer, the chances that the same companies own these events are pretty high. Why? Because, only a handful companies own the major festivals in Europe and in the world : https://lnkd.in/eUM8QE_7 Why does it matter? It's a free market, right? Well, we'll learn about the economic implication of this concentration and what the future holds for artists, festival-goers and independent festivals. We'll talk about what can be done to avoid such concentration. That's what we try to do at Reset! network. Come and listen to the panel, there's also going to be a Q/A session and drinks. See you there! Grab your seat here : http://tiny.cc/yn7gyz

Here you see the Video from last month event in Frankfurt. In keynote I spoke about arriving in Germany, the struggles Expats face and the solution HAVENS LIVING offers as a #urbanlivingconcept We see generally a political discussion around #fachkräftemangel rising. Examples are current talks around special tax solutions or government iniatives like the new one upcoming between Germany and India. So we are again in the middle of things. #expatlife #housing #realestate