Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
香港演藝學院
	The Main Campus of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in Wan Chai, Hong Kong in October 2018
Type	Public
Established	1984; 40 years ago
Chairman	Mr. Charles Yang Chuen-liang BBS JP
Chancellor	John Lee Ka-chiu (as Chief Executive of Hong Kong)
Director	Professor Gillian Choa
Undergraduates	790
Postgraduates	141
Other students	1130
Location	No. 1 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Campus	Urban
Website	www.hkapa.edu
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese	香港演艺学院
Traditional Chinese	香港演藝學院
Hanyu Pinyin
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Xiānggǎng Yǎnyì Xuéyuàn
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization	Hēunggóng Yínngaih Hohkyuhn
Jyutping	Hoeng1gong2 Jin2ngai6 Hok6jyun2

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) is a provider of tertiary education in Hong Kong. Located near the north coast of Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island, the main campus also functions as a venue for performances. Bethanie, which is the site of the institution's Landmark Heritage Campus in Pok Fu Lam, has housed the School of Film and Television since 2007.

The academy provides practice-based and professional diploma, advanced diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Chinese opera, dance, drama, film and television, music, and theatre and entertainment arts. Its educational policy reflects the cultural diversity of Hong Kong with an emphasis on Chinese and Western traditions and interdisciplinary learning. The academy ranks 1st in Asia for four^{[needs update]} consecutive years^[when?] and 10th in the world for two consecutive years^[which?] in 2022 QS World University Rankings by Subject (Performing Arts).

Every year, the academy enrols approximately 750 students for its full-time programmes and around 770 students for its Junior Music Programme and Gifted Young Dancer Programme. Furthermore, its extensive EXCEL (Extension and Continuing Education for Life) programme offers part-time personal enrichment courses and in-service professional training to nearly 8,000 students each year.

History

In early 1981, the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club informed Governor Murray MacLehose that it was willing to fund another project of a comparable scale to its recent major undertakings, which included the Ocean Park and the Jubilee Sports Centre.^[3] The government responded with a proposal to develop an academy for the performing arts.^[3] The academy would complement the performing arts spaces being opened across the territory by the Urban Council, and provide opportunities for creative youth just as the Jubilee Sports Centre was developed to serve young sportspeople.^[4]

On 15 September 1981, the Jockey Club formally announced plans to build the academy on a piece of vacant land in Wan Chai, granted by the government, between HMS Tamar and the Hong Kong Arts Centre.^[3] The academy was established in 1984. In the early 1990s, the APA became a degree-granting institution.

The main campus was designed by local firm Simon Kwan and Associates, who were among six firms invited to submit designs in a limited competition.^[5]^[6] It comprises the Academy Block, the Theatre Block, and the Administration Block. The Administration Block was ready for occupation in July 1985.^[7] The Academy Block was formally opened on 18 September 1985 by Governor Edward Youde. The Theatre Block was opened by the Duchess of Kent on 3 February 1986, the same day the inaugural opera season began as part of the 1986 Hong Kong Arts Festival.^[7] The 1981 model produced for the architectural competition is now held by the M+ museum.^[8]

In 2006 the academy established a second campus at Béthanie in Pok Fu Lam. It mainly houses specialist facilities for the School of Film and Television.^[9]

The original campus was designed for a student population of 600 students. The academy has been facing space constraints as enrolment has gradually risen, prompting planning for campus expansion.^[9] The 334 Scheme further exacerbated the problem.^[9] In June 2012 the Legislative Council approved funding of $444.8 million for construction of a nine-storey annex block, and other campus improvements, presently under construction.^[10] The expansion will house classrooms, studios, laboratories, music rooms, offices, workshops and support facilities.^[9]

The academy is working with the West Kowloon Cultural District, which is under construction, on education plans and venue usage.^[11]

Governance

The academy is governed under the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Ordinance, passed in 1984 by the Legislative Council. Under the legislation the academy is mandated to "foster and provide for training, education and research in the performing arts and related technical arts".^[12] The governing body of the institution is called the Council of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, which is responsible for appointing a director, who oversees the day-to-day operation of the academy.

The academy is funded through tuition fees as well as a subvention provided by the Home Affairs Bureau. This arrangement differs from most other post-secondary institutions in the territory, which are funded by the University Grants Committee.

Kevin Thompson was director of the academy from 2004 to 2012. During his tenure the institute forged international links, including arrangements with the Juilliard School in New York City as well as mainland colleges, and introduced master's degrees in performing arts disciplines. Thompson also initiated planning for campus expansion.^[13] Professor Adrian Walter, was recruited in 2012. He had been the dean of music at the Australian National University in Canberra since 2008.^[14] Professor Gillian Choa succeeded as the new director of the academy with effect from 1 January 2021. Professor Choa is the first female director since the establishment of the academy in 1984.

Academic units

The academy offers academic programmes from diploma/foundation to master's degree level in six faculties:

School of Chinese Opera
School of Dance
School of Drama
School of Film and Television
School of Music
School of Theatre and Entertainment Arts

Facilities

Lyric Theatre, with 1,181 seats.
Drama Theatre, with 415 seats.
Concert Hall, with 382 seats.
Recital Hall, with 134–202 seats
Studio Theatre, with 120–240 seats
Béthanie Theatre at the Béthanie Campus

Notable alumni

Power Chan, Hong Kong television and film actor
Sunny Chan, Hong Kong television and film actor
Louis Cheung, Hong Kong Cantopop recording-artist, songwriter, and actor
Rachel Cheung, Hong Kong pianist
Cheung Tat-ming, Hong Kong actor, comedian, director, and writer
Jim Chim, Hong Kong actor and comedian
Candace Chong Mui Ngam, Hong Kong playwright
Athena Chu, Hong Kong actress and singer
Candy Chu, Hong Kong actress for the Hong Kong TVB television station
Katy Kung, Hong Kong actress
Gigi Lai, Hong Kong actress and Cantopop singer
Joey Leung, Hong Kong actor
Charmaine Li, actress with Television Broadcasts Limited
Alan Mak, Hong Kong filmmaker
Yan Yan Mak, award-winning Hong Kong director
Marco Ngai, Hong Kong actor
Kearen Pang, Hong Kong actress, writer
Louisa So, Hong Kong actress in drama and TV series
Gem Tang Zhi-kei, Hong Kong singer-songwriter and actress
Anthony Wong, award-winning Hong Kong actor, screenwriter, and film director
Wong Cho-lam, Hong Kong stage actor, stage director, and television actor
Mandy Wong, Hong Kong television actress
Tak Chiu Wong, Hong Kong saxophonist
Neo Yau, Hong Kong actor
Yvonne Yung, Hong Kong actress
Rebecca Zhu, Hong Kong actress

References

^ "Governance". The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c "2013-2014 Annual Report" (PDF). Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c Jim, McGrath (16 September 1981). "Jockey Club plans centre for the arts". South China Morning Post. p. 1.
^ "Performing arts project 'timely'". South China Morning Post. 8 October 1981. p. 16.
^ Hayhoe, Jane (2 March 1982). "Academy to hold four art schools". South China Morning Post. p. 10.
^ "HK Academy for Performing Arts". Simon Kwan and Associates. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
^ ^a ^b "Annual Report 1985-86" (PDF). Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. February 1987. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
^ "Competition Model, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Building Design, Hong Kong". M+. West Kowloon Cultural District Authority. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Expansion and Improvement of Wanchai Campus of Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts" (PDF). Legislative Council. 20 April 2012.
^ "On-Campus Expansion (OCE)". Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
^ Chow, Vivienne (16 December 2016). "Academy for Performing Arts to focus on employability and research". South China Morning Post.
^ "The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Ordinance". elegislation.gov.hk. Department of Justice. 1 July 1997. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
^ Chow, Vivienne (18 August 2012). "Academy for Performing Arts chief Kevin Thompson speaks on leaving his post". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
^ Chow, Vivienne (3 September 2012). "New chief Adrian Walter has big plans for HK Academy for Performing Arts". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 16 August 2019.Professor Gillian Choa succeeded Professor Adrian Walter as the new Director of the Academy with effect from 1 January 2021. She is the first female Director since the establishment of the Academy in 1984.