Culture

A gift from the central government, HKPM opened on 2 July 2022 to mark the 25th anniversary of the HKSAR. Its construction was funded by the Club and it showcases 900 priceless treasures from The Palace Museum in Beijing (BJPM), many of which had never been seen in Hong Kong before.

Through The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series, we also support major exhibitions and educational programmes that foster cultural exchange between Hong Kong and the Mainland. These initiatives not only enrich our city’s cultural landscape but also attract international audiences eager to experience Chinese heritage at its finest.

With the support from the Institute of Philanthropy, an independent “think-fund-do” tank for China, Asia and beyond established through a seed grant by the Club and its Charities Trust, a five-year collaboration was forged with the BJPM including the establishment of The Palace Museum Hong Kong Cultural Exchange Hub to promote Chinese culture, foster cultural exchange and develop arts-tech talents. A key focus of the collaboration is to explore the use of arts-tech to engage young audiences in a lively and innovative way, and deepening their appreciation for Chinese history and culture.

We recognise that sometimes talented musicians and dancers need a financial boost to help them realise their dreams.

Yip Wing-sie is the Music Director Emeritus of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and an influential figure in the classical music scene in Asia. She was born into a musical family, so it was natural for her to go on to study music after secondary school. She is an awardee of our Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund, which we established in 1980 and credits it with allowing her the financial freedom to study the subjects and instruments she loved including the violin.

“The fund provides young people with the opportunity to study abroad, which not only enhances their artistic knowledge but also broadens their horizons through exposure to different musical performances that will help them develop their full potential,” says Yip.

Established in 1980, the fund had awarded 388 scholarships by the end of 2024 to outstanding young musicians and dancers—many of whom, like Yip, have gone on to shape the cultural landscape. Among them is internationally acclaimed pianist Colleen Lee Ka-ling, recognised not only for her performance excellence, but also for her dedication to nurturing the next generation of classical musicians.

“The fund was established to support the development of music and the arts in Hong Kong and over the years, it has helped many young artists realise their dreams,” says Lee.

Beyond financial support, we are also committed to fostering local talent by creating dedicated spaces for artistic growth and performance. In Shek Kip Mei, Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre (JCCAC)—a nine-storey former factory transformed into a vertical artist village—now serves as the creative base for around 140 artists and cultural organisations. Operating as a self-financing charitable organization and an affiliate of Hong Kong Baptist University, JCCAC received funding from us for its conservation and renovation to offer a welcoming space for the public to engage with arts and culture.

In addition to funding the establishment of the HKAPA in Wan Chai, we have launched several programmes to nurture artistic growth. These include the Hong Kong Jockey Club Collection of String Instruments, which gives students access to instruments to support the development of their musical skills. Meanwhile, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Amphitheatre also offers an inspiring venue for the next generation of artists to learn, perform and thrive.

It is so vital to be able to have access to the arts from a young age, but for some primary school-age children this can sometimes be more difficult. In 2024, we initiated and funded JC Project MuSE, a school-based Music (Mu) and Sports (S) Education (E) programme for primary schoolchildren in impoverished areas of Hong Kong. It is a six-year project which will be implemented at 15 primary schools, so with a reach of 8,000 children, to enable them to appreciate music and artistic pursuits, to enjoy sports, and to enhance their physical and academic development and their emotional well-being.