Hong Kong Arts Development Council

What Hong Kong Arts Development Council does

Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) is a statutory body established in 1995 under the Hong Kong Arts Development Council Ordinance, designated by the HKSAR Government to oversee comprehensive arts development in Hong Kong. It is governed by a 27-member Council—10 members elected by the arts community and 17 appointed by the Chief Executive—and operates through 7 committees and 10 arts sector groups covering Arts Administration, Arts Criticism, Arts Education, Dance, Drama, Film & Media Arts, Literature, Music, Visual Arts, and Xiqu (Chinese opera). HKADC does not sell commercial products or services; it is funded by HKSAR Government appropriations and co-funding from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

HKADC's core offerings span four functional lines: (1) grants—including Year Grant, Project Grant, Eminent Arts Group Scheme (5-year commitments to 5 groups in 2024-2029), and Matching Fund Scheme; (2) scholarships and training—including Local Arts Administration Internship, Overseas Cultural Internship (with Clore Leadership UK, ISPA, Adelaide Festival Centre), Arts Administration Scholarships, and the Music & Dance Distinguished Performance Commendation Pilot; (3) arts spaces and venues—SHOWCASE multi-purpose venue and ADC Arts Spaces across Wong Chuk Hang, Tai Po, Kwun Tong, and Lai Chi Kok; and (4) promotion and research—including the Hong Kong Arts Development Awards, Jockey Club New Arts Power, Arts Go Digital Platform Scheme, Arts•Tech Exhibition, Arts Information Centre, Arts Events Databank, and the Oral History & Archives Project. The digital footprint comprises a primary portal (hkadc.org.hk) plus dedicated sub-sites for each initiative, with a multi-language presence on Facebook, YouTube, WeChat, Weibo, Instagram, and Douyin.

HKADC's go-to-market is event- and grant-cycle driven: beneficiaries (registered non-profit arts organizations, individual HKID-holding artists aged 18+, and participating schools) access funding through open calls administered via the website and in-person submission. International positioning is maintained through co-curation of Hong Kong's representation at the Venice Biennale (with M+), delegations to CINARS, Classical:NEXT, PAMS, and Tanzmesse, the biennial International Arts Leadership Roundtable (co-organized with Hong Kong Palace Museum), the Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo (HKPAX), and new strategic partnerships with Fondazione Prada, teamLab, and the World Economic Forum. The current Chairman is Kenneth Fok (霍启剛), Legislative Council member, and the current Chief Executive is Tsang Shuk-yee (曾淑儀), appointed December 2025.

Name

Hong Kong Arts Development Council

Legal name

Hong Kong Arts Development Council (香港藝術發展局)

Website

https://hkadc.org.hk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) is a 1995-established HKSAR statutory body that funds and develops Hong Kong's arts sector through grants, scholarships, owned venues (SHOWCASE, ADC Arts Spaces), and international exchange programs, serving non-profit arts organizations, individual artists, and schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Funding & Cultural Development Administration

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)

Keywords

• Arts grant administration
• Public arts funding
• Cultural development council
• Arts scholarship schemes
• Arts venue management

Headquarters

HQ city

Quarry Bay

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: HKADC is a government-designated statutory body established in 1995. It receives funding from the Hong Kong government to provide grants, scholarships, and operate arts development programs. Revenue is derived from public funds allocated by the HKSAR Government for arts and cultural development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HKADC is Hong Kong's government-designated statutory body for comprehensive arts development, administering public grants across ten arts disciplines (music, dance, drama, xiqu, visual arts, film and media arts, literary arts, arts administration, arts criticism, arts education). It provides grant funding (Year Grant, Project Grant, Eminent Arts Group Scheme, Matching Fund Scheme), scholarships and overseas training programs, dedicated arts venues (SHOWCASE and ADC Arts Space studios), flagship promotional events (Hong Kong Arts Development Awards, HKPAX, Arts•Tech Exhibition, Jockey Club New Arts Power), school arts programs, and sector research/archival resources.

Product overview

The Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) operates a comprehensive arts development ecosystem centred around its official website portal (hkadc.org.hk), which functions as the primary interface for all grant applications, event listings, and organizational information. The council provides multiple interconnected programmes and services organized into distinct product lines: (1) Funding and Grants — including Year Grant, Project Grant, Eminent Arts Group Scheme, and Matching Fund Scheme for arts organizations and individual artists; (2) Scholarships and Training — encompassing local and overseas internship schemes, arts administration scholarships, and executive training programmes; (3) Arts Promotion — featuring the Hong Kong Arts Development Awards, Jockey Club New Arts Power platform, Arts Go Digital platform scheme, and the Arts•Tech Exhibition series; (4) Arts Spaces and Venues — including the SHOWCASE multi-purpose venue and ADC Arts Space studios; (5) Research and Knowledge — comprising the annual Hong Kong arts survey reports, Arts Information Centre, Arts Events Databank, and Oral History and Archives Project; (6) International Networking — including Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo, International Arts Leadership Roundtable, and representation at Venice Biennale; (7) School Arts Education — with the Arts-in-School Partnership Scheme and Arts Ambassadors-in-School Scheme; and (8) Publications — including the Artnews (藝萃) newsletter and annual reports. The council's digital presence spans multiple dedicated portals for specific initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hong Kong Arts Development Awards (香港藝術發展獎): Annual awards program recognizing outstanding artists and arts organizations in Hong Kong
• Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo (香港演藝博覽)
• Arts-Tech Exhibition (藝術•科技)展覽
• Arts Go Digital (藝術數碼平台計劃)
• Arts-in-School Partnership Scheme (學校與藝團伙伴計劃)
• Arts Ambassadors-in-School Scheme (校園藝術大使計劃)
• SHOWCASE 展藝館
• ADC Arts Space
• Youth Arts Week (青藝週)
• Arts in the City (城中藝遊)
• Jockey Club New Arts Power (賽馬會藝壇新勢力)

Products and services

• Year Grant (年度資助) Strategic funding programme supporting small-to-medium Hong Kong arts organizations with one-year or two-year grant periods for operations and activity production across ten arts disciplines. Available to registered non-profit arts companies limited by guarantee.
• Project Grant (計劃資助) Funding programme supporting project-based arts activities across music, dance, drama, xiqu, visual arts, film and media arts, literary arts, arts administration, arts criticism, and arts education. Open to all arts organizations and individual arts workers, with two application cycles per year.
• Eminent Arts Group Scheme (優秀藝團計劃) Multi-year (5-year) funding programme for selected arts organizations demonstrating artistic excellence; the 2024-2029 cohort selected five arts groups. Supports strategic development of leading Hong Kong arts organizations.
• Matching Fund Scheme (配對資助計劃) Funding programme that matches private-sector sponsorship for qualifying arts organizations, leveraging additional financial resources from corporate and individual donors to support Hong Kong arts activities.
• Scholarships and Training Programmes (獎學金及培訓計劃) Comprehensive suite of scholarship and training initiatives including the Local Arts Administration/Production Internship Scheme, Overseas Cultural Internship and Training Programme, Arts Administration Scholarships, Overseas Training Scheme, Intensive Executive In-Service Training Programme, Hong Kong Scholarship on the Clore Fellowship Programme, and Hong Kong Fellowship at ISPA. For Hong Kong arts administrators and individual arts workers.
• SHOWCASE (展藝館) Multi-Purpose Venue HKADC's multi-purpose exhibition and performance space at Landmark South, Wong Chuk Hang, open for public venue hire bookings. Available to arts organizations and artists for performances, exhibitions, and related arts activities.
• ADC Arts Space (ADC藝術空間) Arts studio spaces provided to local artists for creation and exhibition, with locations at Landmark South Wong Chuk Hang and Tai Po Arts Centre. Subsidized workspace available for working artists.
• Hong Kong Arts Development Awards (香港藝術發展獎) Annual awards programme (held biennially alternating with HKPAX) recognizing outstanding artists, arts groups, and individuals for contributions to Hong Kong arts development, including Best New Artist, Young Artist, and Lifetime Achievement categories. The 19th edition was held in 2025.
• Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo (HKPAX / 香港演藝博覽) Flagship annual event connecting Hong Kong's performing arts sector with international peers, featuring showcases, pitching sessions, and networking opportunities. Connects global performing arts professionals with Hong Kong arts organizations.
• Arts•Tech Exhibition (藝術•科技展覽) Series of exhibitions exploring the intersection of arts and technology, hosted in collaboration with the Hong Kong Palace Museum. Open to the public.
• Arts Go Digital Platform Scheme (藝術數碼平台計劃) Special funding programme funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charitable Trust Fund, supporting digital arts projects across various art forms to create digital or virtual arts content; 68 projects were funded under the scheme.
• Arts-in-School Partnership Scheme (學校與藝團伙伴計劃) Programme connecting schools with arts groups to integrate arts education into school settings. For Hong Kong schools seeking professional arts education partnerships.
• Arts Ambassadors-in-School Scheme (校園藝術大使計劃) Programme engaging student arts ambassadors and local artists to co-create arts activities in schools, including Youth Arts Week (青藝週). For Hong Kong schools and students.
• Jockey Club New Arts Power (賽馬會藝壇新勢力) Platform showcasing and supporting local emerging artists, funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Features performances, exhibitions, and artist profiles.
• Arts Information Centre (藝術資訊中心) Resource centre providing access to HKADC archives, publications, and records of arts events and projects supported by the council. Open to researchers, arts practitioners, and the public.
• Arts Events Databank (藝術活動資料庫) Online database consolidating records of performing arts events and visual arts exhibitions from 2010 to 2019, survey data from 2014 to 2022, and thematic articles from 2017 to 2020. Freely accessible research resource.
• Oral History and Archives Project (口述歷史及資料保存計劃) Project launched in 2019 on a pilot basis to film and document interviews with twelve senior arts practitioners, preserving audiovisual records and archival materials. Accessible online at artsoralhistory.hk.
• Hong Kong Annual Arts Survey Report (香港藝術界年度調查報告) Annual research publication documenting statistical data on Hong Kong's arts sector across performing arts, film, literary arts, and visual arts disciplines. Available free to the public and policymakers.
• HKADC Official Website (hkadc.org.hk) The official website of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council serving as the primary digital portal for arts funding applications, grant management, event information, and organizational resources. Supports Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and English.

Quantifiable outcome

• 68 projects funded under Arts Go Digital scheme
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fondazione PradacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2025HKADC partnered with Fondazione Prada for the first time to launch a new professional training program in Milan, nurturing Hong Kong arts administrators. This represents HKADC's inaugural collaboration with Fondazione Prada to provide international professional development opportunities for local arts management talent.
• teamLabcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2024HKADC joined forces with international art collective teamLab and the World Economic Forum (WEF) for a strategic dialogue on creative economy growth. The partnership aimed to convene industry leaders to discuss and advance Hong Kong's creative economy development, leveraging teamLab's global prominence in digital art.
• World Economic Forum (WEF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2024HKADC participated in a strategic dialogue on creative economy growth alongside teamLab and WEF, aiming to advance Hong Kong's position in the global creative economy through high-level industry engagement.
• Adelaide Festival Centre (Australia)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 December 2023HKADC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Adelaide Festival Centre to strengthen arts exchange and collaboration between Hong Kong and Australia. The partnership supports arts administrators and artists through overseas internship and training programs.
• Hong Kong Palace MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 August 2023HKADC co-organized the 5th International Arts Leadership Roundtable with the Hong Kong Palace Museum, hosting international arts leaders at the museum's Jockey Club Lecture Hall in October 2024. The partnership leverages the museum's prestige and facilities for high-level arts policy discussions.
• West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (M+)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023HKADC co-organizes Hong Kong's participation in the Venice Biennale with M+. For the 60th Venice Biennale (2024), HKADC and M+ jointly presented 'Trevor Yeung: Courtyard of Attachments, Hong Kong in Venice', curated by Olivia Chow from M+. The partnership also extends to local response exhibitions at M+ in Hong Kong, bringing Venice Biennale participation back to local audiences.
• Clore Leadership Programme (UK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHKADC collaborates with the UK-based Clore Leadership Programme to offer Hong Kong Scholarship on the Clore Fellowship Programme, enabling local arts administrators to access world-class leadership training. Annual scholarships are offered to selected candidates.
• International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHKADC partners with ISPA to offer the Hong Kong Fellowship at ISPA, providing Hong Kong arts managers and producers with access to ISPA's international network and professional development programs.
• Adelaide Festival Centre (Australia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHKADC collaborates with Adelaide Festival Centre as one of its overseas cultural internship and training partners, providing placement opportunities for experienced Hong Kong arts administrators at the Australian institution.
• Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHKADC organizes delegations to participate in the Performing Arts Market Seoul (PAMS), led by KAMS, to promote Hong Kong's performing arts sector to international buyers and foster networking opportunities for local arts workers.
• Classical:NEXTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHKADC has participated in Classical:NEXT since 2018, setting up exhibition booths and funding Hong Kong music professionals to attend the annual international music marketplace. HKADC also facilitates Hong Kong artists' selection for official showcase performances.
• CINARS (Canada)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHKADC has participated in the CINARS performing arts marketplace in Montreal since 2018, funding Hong Kong arts workers to attend and facilitating international exposure for local artists to program directors and agents.
• Internationale Tanzmesse nrw (Tanzmesse, Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHKADC co-organized Hong Kong's participation in Tanzmesse 2018 with West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, leading a delegation of over 50 local dance artists and arts administrators. A booth and networking reception were held at the fair.
• Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust funds major HKADC initiatives including the Jockey Club New Arts Power (New Arts Power) program and the Arts Go Digital platform scheme. The JJC Charitable Trust is a key funder enabling HKADC's arts promotion programs.
• Gwangju Cultural Foundation (Korea)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHKADC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Gwangju Cultural Foundation to promote cultural exchange between Hong Kong and Korea, building on shared interests in arts development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Creative Scotland: Creative Scotland is the public body that supports culture and creativity in Scotland, distributing government and National Lottery funding to artists and cultural organizations. Comparable to HKADC in statutory status and grantmaking role, though operating within a devolved UK context rather than as a sovereign jurisdiction's arts funding body.
• The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon (Ireland): The Arts Council of Ireland is the Irish government agency for developing the arts, distributing exchequer funding to artists and arts organizations. It mirrors HKADC's statutory mandate as a national arts funding body with comparable grant programs, awards schemes, and international exchange support, though operating in a smaller and more culturally concentrated market.

Broad incumbents

• Arts Council England: Arts Council England is the national development agency for arts and culture in England, distributing government-backed funding and lottery proceeds to artists and arts organizations. It is comparable to HKADC as a government-designated arts funding body with National Portfolio Organization grants, individual artist support, and strategic arts development mandates—directly analogous in statutory mission and funding model.
• National Endowment for the Arts (US): The National Endowment for the Arts is the independent federal agency of the United States that funds artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation. Although operating at a much larger scale and with different governance, NEA shares HKADC's statutory mission of distributing public funds to arts organizations and individuals, and serves as a global benchmark for government arts funding models.
• Japan Arts Council: The Japan Arts Council is an independent administrative institution under Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs that provides grants for artistic and cultural activities. It is comparable to HKADC as a government-linked arts funding body supporting performing arts, visual arts, and international cultural exchange, though operating at a much larger scale and budget.
• Canada Council for the Arts: Canada Council for the Arts is a federal Crown corporation that funds Canadian artists and arts organizations across disciplines. It parallels HKADC as a government-backed arts development body offering project grants, operating support, and international residency/exchange programs—operating at a similar scale of grants administration and stakeholder engagement.
• Australia Council for the Arts: Australia Council for the Arts is the Australian Government's principal arts funding and advisory body, providing grants across disciplines to artists and organizations. It mirrors HKADC's role as a statutory national arts funding body with comparable grant categories (project grants, fellowships, multi-year organizational support) and international market development programs.

Direct peers

• National Arts Council Singapore: National Arts Council Singapore is the statutory body under Singapore's Ministry of Culture that supports the development of the arts in Singapore through grants, partnerships, and arts infrastructure. As an Asia-based statutory arts council of comparable scale and remit, it is the most direct geographic peer to HKADC, operating similar grant schemes, international market development (e.g., presentations at CINARS, Tanzmesse), and venue support functions.
• West Kowloon Cultural District Authority: The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority operates Hong Kong's flagship cultural infrastructure including M+ museum and the Xiqu Centre for Chinese opera. It is HKADC's most immediate operational peer in Hong Kong, co-organizing initiatives like Venice Biennale representation and Tanzmesse participation, while also competing for influence in HK's arts ecosystem.
• Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS): Korea Arts Management Service is a quasi-governmental Korean institution that supports performing arts management and international market development, including the Performing Arts Market Seoul (PAMS). It is a direct operational peer to HKADC given that HKADC actively partners with KAMS to bring Hong Kong delegations to PAMS, reflecting shared remits in performing arts promotion and international market access.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/HongKongArtsDevelopmentCouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/HKADCpage
• Instagraminstagram.com/hkadc_official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hong-kong-arts-development-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hong Kong Arts Development Council