Community & Charities
Arts, Culture and Heritage
Tai Kwun celebrates 1st anniversary and historic past with inspiring Tai Kwun 101 heritage exhibition
25/05/2019
Since opening its doors to the public a year ago, Tai Kwun – Centre for Heritage and Arts has come alive with heritage and arts exhibitions, musical performances, film shows, docent tours and more. Some 3.4 million visits were recorded in its first year of operations, making it the most visited heritage site in town.
On 25 May, Tai Kwun celebrated its first anniversary with the launch of a “Tai Kwun 101” heritage exhibition as more than 200 guests and visitors watched a spectacular performance by the Hong Kong Police Force.
Since its opening, Tai Kwun has more than lived up to its purpose as a vibrant and vital part of Hong Kong’s cultural and artistic life. It has mounted an active programme of exhibitions, events and performances. It has collaborated with major arts groups and festivals and given a platform to up-and-coming artists and performers. It has also reached out to the local community, recording and sharing the stories of Central district, and has welcomed citizens from all walks of life, including students, the elderly and the differently abled.
Tai Kwun 101” is a thematic exhibition that showcases 101 objects related to the Central Police Station compound and it chronicles a variety of stories about work and life in these historic buildings over the years.
In addition, an inspiring array of exhibitions and programmes featuring home grown and international artists and troupes has been lined up. For example, the contemporary arts exhibition “MURAKAMI vs MURAKAMI” by world famous artist Takashi Murakami will open on 1 June.
The restoration of the Central Police Station compound and its revitalisation as Tai Kwun has not only enabled the Club to set a new standard for heritage conservation in Hong Kong, but also transform the site into a living, breathing cultural space that all can enjoy.
Support for the project, as for all of the Club’s community initiatives, was made possible through its unique integrated business model. It is through this model that the Club contributes to the betterment of our society, delivering economic and social value for the benefit of all. Tai Kwun is the most significant charitable project undertaken by the Club under its Arts, Culture & Heritage focus area and the largest heritage conservation and revitalisation project in Hong Kong. It contributes to the city’s heritage and cultural life and strengthens Hong Kong’s position as an international arts and cultural hub.
Led by The Hong Kong Jockey Club in partnership with the Government of the HKSAR, the project has been recognised for its structural excellence by The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, whose Structural Excellence Award 2019 was presented to project engineering consultant Arup. Tai Kwun was also honoured by The Hong Kong Institute of Architectural Conservationists in the Interpretation Category of the HKICON Conservation Awards 2018, and named by The Telegraph newspaper as one of the largest and most intricate conservation projects in the city.
