---
title: "A win-win initiative: how Hong Kong's schools are becoming art spaces"
date: 2023-10-19T14:23:15Z
modified: 2025-10-17T04:47:28Z
permalink: "https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/city-project/hong-kong-arts-in-school-partnership-scheme/"
type: city-project
status: publish
excerpt: The Arts-in-School Partnership Scheme aims to foster collaboration between local arts organisations/artists and schools by encouraging school operators to lease their premises and facilities to arts organisations and artists for artistic creation and production.
wpid: 168653
tags:
  - Advocacy
  - Health
  - Innovation
region:
  - Hong Kong
country:
  - China
city-region:
  - Asia
topic:
  - Creative Practice
  - Creative Space
  - Education
  - Young People
featured_image: "https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Hong-Kong-2.jpg"
---

## Project: scheme to utilise valuable space and create relationships between the cultural sector and schools 



![](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Hong-Kong-2.jpg)

**The Purpose**
There is a keen demand for arts space and rehearsal venues from Hong Kong’s arts sector. Supported by the HKSAR Government, HKADC launched the Arts-in-School Partnership Scheme to promote better use of school premises as arts spaces, as well as nurturing students’ interests in the arts.

**The Challenge**
One of the challenges was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this challenge, the Arts-in-School Partnership Scheme continued to operate and even saw a growing popularity, and the scheme adapted to the circumstances.

> Over 650 arts programmes and activities have been organised to date, reaching about 30,000 participants.

![](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Hong-Kong-13.jpg)

## **The Solution**

The Arts-in-School Partnership Scheme aims to foster collaboration between local arts organisations/artists and schools by encouraging school operators to lease their premises and facilities to arts organisations and artists. The artists and organisations are also encouraged to engage students at their partnering schools in various arts programmes and activities, such as performances, exhibitions, rehearsals, lectures, workshops, and online learning/sharing, to broaden students’ artistic horizons and bring arts into the school campus.

Since its launch in 2018, the Scheme has successfully matched 74 pairs of local arts units and primary/secondary/special schools to carry out a year-long partnership. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Scheme has earned growing popularity, as seen from the rising number of applications over each round. Over 650 arts programmes and activities have been organised to date, reaching about 30,000 participants.

**The Impact**
Parents are also invited to experience arts with their children. Some partners go a step further and invite the community to take part in activities held at school, while others encourage the students to actively engage with their neighbourhood, in collaboration with local community service organizations.

The Scheme is a one-of-its-kind initiative that successfully pools resources together from the schools and the arts sector. Looking ahead, the Scheme will continue to leverage the rapport between the schools and the arts sector to connect with communities, benefiting more students as well as their teachers, parents, peers and neighbourhood.

_Source:_ [_World Cities Culture Report 2022_](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/publication/world-cities-culture-forum-report-2022/)

Images Courtesy © City of Hong Kong