Community & Charities
Arts, Culture and Heritage
Jockey Club supports cultural heritage conservation of Fringe Club
11/04/2019
Situated in a 120-year-old Grade 1 heritage building in Hong Kong’s Central district, the Fringe Club has served as a contemporary arts space for more than 30 years, playing an important role in local arts development and in heritage preservation.
The Club’s Charities Trust has supported the building’s conservation and renovation since 1989, with an approved donation of over HK$44 million. On 11 April, a ceremony was held to mark the official completion of the renovation works.
The refurbishment works have enabled the historic building to meet up-to-date statutory building, fire and health hygiene requirements, while preserving and enhancing its striking exterior and interior features.
Arts facilities, equipment and furniture have been upgraded to bring them up to present-day standards for exhibitions and performances, while barrier-free access has been added and the existing studio has been upgraded into a new, multi-purpose facility, The Jockey Club Studio Theatre. Together, these enhancements provide a platform for local and overseas artists to create and showcase their work, and for people of different ages and abilities to enjoy the club’s wide-ranging arts and cultural activities.
The Club’s funding also included the establishment of the Jockey Club Cultural Heritage Leadership Project, aimed at developing local young arts and heritage administrators and practitioners. It has provided training on heritage preservation and arts administration through activities such as lectures, experience-sharing by international experts, and the production of education kits.
Over the years, the Club has been a staunch supporter of local arts development and heritage preservation. Its Charities Trust has designated Arts, Culture and Heritage as one of its four strategic focus areas, with the aim of building a culturally vibrant Hong Kong, enriching lives and promoting social inclusion. By supporting projects like these, the Club hopes to help create the best enabling environment for the sustainable and multi-dimensional development of local arts and culture.
