Standard Chartered Arts in the Park 2018 a Great Success

Hong Kong’s largest outdoor youth arts festival and puppet parade Showcases local talent in Causeway Bay And attracts 190,000 visitors

HONG KONG, CHINA� – Media OutReach – 5 November
2018 – Standard Chartered Arts in the
Park 2018 ended  yesterday after a
hugely successful weekend! Attracting 190,000 local and overseas visitors, the
annual arts carnival closed with a Grand Finale Parade that comprised a parade
team of more than 700 youngsters and dozens of local artists, and generated
great excitement in Causeway Bay. Mr Kam-sing Wong, GBS, JP, Acting Chief
Secretary for Administration, participated in the launch ceremony before the
parade to show his support for the parade team and for the development of local
youth arts.

The Standard Chartered Arts in the Park 2018 Grand Finale Parade was held yesterday! The event consisted of a procession of 12 giant puppets standing at 4 metres in height, plus an exciting parade team of 700 energetic young people to maximise the lively atmosphere.

The Acting Chief Secretary for Administration Mr Kam-sing Wong officiated the Grand Finale Parade launch ceremony, showing his support for the 700 people parade team and for the development of local youth arts.

Standard Chartered Arts in the Park attracted 190,000 visitors this year, who had enjoyed an exciting weekend of sensory art experiences.

Professional local artists had worked with primary and secondary school students and dedicated months of hard work to create these giant puppets and over 700 pieces of parade artworks. During the parade, the students marched through Causeway Bay in confidence to celebrate their vibrant creations with the public.

Throughout the weekend, Victoria Park was packed with fun-filled events, including 16 free interactive art stalls, African Drum Jam sessions, plus non-stop stage performances by 60 talented youth groups.

Organised by Hong Kong Youth Arts
Foundation, sponsored by Standard Chartered Community Foundation and powered by
Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, this was the 18^th edition
of the annual Standard Chartered Arts in
the Park event. Taking
inspiration from the classic children’s story The Wizard of Oz, this year’s two-day spectacle mobilised more than
3,500 youth participants, over 700 volunteers, 26 groups of local and
international artists, and required over 20,000 dedicated hours of preparation to
put together the puppets and costumes! Over the weekend, Victoria Park came
alive with non-stop stage performances by 60 youth groups, 16 free interactive
art stalls, an exhibition of 450 vintage-style posters, live storytelling
performances, plus this year’s special new event, The Emerald City Best Outfit Contest.

 

Night Parade Transforms Causeway Bay

On Saturday 3 November, Standard Chartered Arts in the Park Night
Parade transformed Causeway Bay into the Land of Oz and drew large crowds
to Hysan Avenue and Kai Chiu Road to experience the magic. The event featured
14 illuminated parade artworks — 7 spectacular giant puppets and 7 luminous
costumes inspired by favourite characters from The Wizard of Oz — plus accompanying dancers from Hong Kong Youth
Arts Foundation. The parade artworks were
created by professional local
artists and the UK-based art group Lantern Company.

 

With the support of
partnering sponsor Lee Gardens Association, a selection of parade artworks will
be exhibited between 8 and 22 November at Lee Garden One, open daily from 10am
to 10pm)

 

700-strong Grand Finale Parade Team Takes
Causeway Bay by Storm

The pinnacle of Standard Chartered Arts in the Park —
the Grand Finale Parade, held yesterday
afternoon (Sunday 4 November), started at the Central Lawn in Victoria Park and
marched through East Point Road and back, drawing great crowds along the way.

 

The enchanted day-time parade
consisted of 5 thematic sections inspired by The Wizard of Oz: Munchkin Country, Quadling Country, Winkie
Country, Gillikin Country and the Emerald City. Led by the Wizard of Oz, a
4-metre tall giant puppet created by Lantern Company, the parade artworks
featured 12 giant puppets standing up to 4 metres tall, more than 700 rod
puppets and sensational parade costumes created by professional local artists
and students.

 

Both Standard Chartered Arts in the Park Night Parade and Grand Finale Parade were co-organised by
the Cultural and Leisure Services Committee of Wan Chai District Council. Their
support over the years has helped to promote the event and its mission to local
residents and international visitors, and supported the holistic development of
young people in Hong Kong.

 

Transforming Victoria Park
into an Arts Education Carnival

This year, Standard Chartered Arts in the Park consisted
of 16 free interactive art stalls for visitors to have a go at creating masks,
headdresses and simple costumes, face painting, balloon twisting, participating
in African drum jams and more. Throughout the two-day festival, 60 youth groups
performed live on stage, providing a variety of entertainment that showcased
their talent and creativity in traditional dance, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary
dance, fancy rope skipping, marching bands, magic, acrobatics, singing in a
200-person choir and much more.

 

Education and the Arts Rolled into One

Standard Chartered Arts in the Park is an annual education programme that helps
young people in Hong Kong improve their self-confidence and enhance important
life skills such as creativity, teamwork and problem-solving through the arts. The six-month programme culminates in a two-day
free-of-charge festival in November. Standard
Chartered Arts in the Park first took place in 2001 at Stanley Plaza. That
year, the parade consisted of a few hundred participants. Since then, it has
attracted over 3,500 participants from Hong Kong’s schools and youth
organisations, who come together to flex their creative muscles with
professional artists and produce vibrant costumes and giant puppets for two
spectacular street parades, plus a variety of stage performances and art
stalls.

Inspired
by London’s Notting Hill Carnival and Brazil’s
Rio de Janeiro Carnival, Standard
Chartered Arts in the Park attracts on average more than 180,000 local and overseas
visitors each year. By providing participants with exciting opportunities in
the arts, Standard Chartered Arts in the
Park aims to create a positive, family-oriented arts carnival in Hong Kong
that fosters creativity and appreciation of local talent.

 

For
more information about Standard Chartered
Arts in the Park, please visit www.hkyaf.com or follow us
on Facebook @SCArtsInThePark.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About
Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation (HKYAF)

Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation (HKYAF) is a
charity that provides access to high quality, non-competitive free-of-charge
arts experiences for all young people aged 5 to 25. Established in 1993 by
Lindsey McAlister OBE, JP, HKYAF organises inclusive and inspirational projects
that reach out to youngsters of all cultures, backgrounds, languages and
abilities, and actively creates opportunities for those who are disadvantaged
and underprivileged. Each year, HKYAF reaches over 800,000 people through its
projects, exhibition and performances.

 

About
Standard Chartered

We are a leading international banking group,
with a presence in more than 60 of the world’s most dynamic markets. Our
purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our
heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, Here for good.

Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the
London and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges as well as the Bombay and National Stock
Exchanges in India.

The history of Standard Chartered in Hong
Kong dates back to 1859. It is currently one of the Hong Kong SAR’s three
note-issuing banks. Standard Chartered incorporated its Hong Kong business on 1
July 2004, and now operates as a licensed bank in Hong Kong under the name of
Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Standard Chartered PLC. 

For more
stories and expert opinions please visit Insights at sc.com. Follow Standard Chartered on Twitter, LinkedIn
and Facebook.

 

About Cultural and Leisure
Services Committee of Wan Chai District Council

The
Cultural and Leisure Services Committee of Wan Chai District Council is
dedicated to coordinating the cultural, leisure, sports, arts and festive
celebrating activities provided by district organizations and government
departments as well as promoting the book fair activities, cultivating reading
culture for people in the district, nurturing community spirit, enhancing
involvement opportunity and fostering social solidarity.