Visual art exhibition in Hong Kong - Research Proposal Example

Development proposal for a three-dimensional painting visual art exhibition in Hong Kong Executive summary The tourism trends have significantlychanged since the turn of the 21st century. Today national governments and tourism sector organizations are taking vehement efforts to take advantages of the changing tourism trends. Earlier, visiting domestic and foreign hot tourist destinations was the major trend in tourism industry. However, modern tourists give great importance to cultural tourism, and they are really interested to visit art galleries and museums. Hong Kong is a fast emerging country in Asia, and tourism industry is a major contributor to the country’s GDP. The Hong Kong government has recognized the significance of mega events in developing the tourism sector. It has established the Mega Events Fund (MEF) to host major arts, sports, and cultural events in the country. A three-dimensional painting visual art exhibition, as a mega event, can obtain better return on investment if it is launched in compliance with cultural and economic policies of the country. The expo should take advantages of advanced internet based technologies to provide a great watching experience to the audience. Above all, the event management team must ensure the strong cooperation of the Hong Kong government and global as well as national media to promote the event effectively. 2. Introduction The planned expo, a three-dimensional painting visual art exhibition in Hong Kong, falls under the category of a mega event. The term mega event is used to describe high profile worldwide events like Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup, and expos. Although the term mega event has not been well defined, a big event is clearly distinct from a mega event. The number of participants is not only the criterion used to recognize a mega event. According to a study conducted by Harry H. Hiller, “a mega event is first of all of fixed duration and on a short term basis. The event has a high profile, there is a worldwide interest linked to the event and there is a sustainable and measurable economic outcome” (as cited in The Pulse, 2007). A mega event will have participants and audience from all parts of the world, and all forms of media will be interested in the event. Although a mega even may not be necessarily successfully in a financial perspective, certainly it will have a significant impact on the economy as a whole, because a mega event contributes notably to tourism sector and infrastructure development (Owen, 2007, p.243). In addition to the economic impacts, the planned three-dimensional painting visual art exhibition can greatly influence the cultural aspects as well as the aesthetic notions of Hong Kong. An expo of three-dimensional paining is relatively new to the world, and hence the planned mega event can also add value to the development of 3D painting visual art. This mega event will have a range of stakeholders including organizers, Hong Kong government, global media, participants, audience, and related industries. Evidently Hong Kong’s political spectrum and governmental policies can greatly influence the success of this mega event. 3. Literature Review In order to evaluate whether the planned expo is capable of meeting the outcomes intended, it is vital to analyze economic and socio cultural situations prevailing in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong tourism fact sheet published by Information Services Department (2011) reflects that the tourism industry is already one of the major pillars of the Hong Kong economy, and it makes up 3.3 percent of the country’s GDP. In addition, the Hong Kong tourism sector accounts for the country’s 5.5 percent of total employment, employing more than 193,200 persons (Ibid. The country is also blessed with some major tourist attractions and facilities. It is interesting to see that Hong Kong government strives to make the country the events capital of Asia, and has set aside millions of money to organize mega events (Ibid). According to the Hong Kong Legislative Council, the Mega Events Fund was a major measure introduced by the Hong Kong financial department to create jobs and internship opportunities in the country and to boost the economic growth of the country (Press Release 2013). As part of this plan, the Hong Kong Financial Secretary reserved a non-recurrent funding of $100 million in his 2009-2010 Budget to help organizers host ‘attractive events in the areas of arts, culture, and sports’ over the next three years (Ibid). In 2013, the Mega Events Fund (MEF) Assessment Committee decided to contribute a maximum of $6.75 million to finance two major events, namely the 2013 Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival and the Dragon and Lion Dance Extravaganza 2014 (Ibid). After critical evaluation, the MEF Assessment Committee sated early this year that it will provide a maximum amount of $5.5 million to assist the organizers to host the 2014 Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival (Press Release 2014). Hence, it is clear that Hong Kong maintains a good platform to support mega events and to attain the position as the events capital of Asia. Similarly, it seems that Hong Kong’s culture gives great significance to artistic works like paintings and drawings. As Ortolani (2008, p. 167) points out, the country has many well established art development organizations such as Hong Kong Museum of Art and Hong Kong Arts Center. The author also indicates that the country also maintains several other improved facilities to promote art (Ibid). According to Anita Chan, Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York, Hong Kong has unique cultural characteristics to enhance arts and culture (Hong Kong Economics and Trade Office,n.d.). She also says that Hong Kong government has also taken great efforts to promote and develop art in the country (Ibid). Chen (2008, p. 190) argues that the establishment of Hong Kong Art Development Council has greatly fuelled the planning and promotion of the broad development of arts in the country. The writer adds that the Art Development Council plays an inevitable role in improving the quality of life of the whole community (Ibid). Referring to Kao (2002, pp.101-105), Hong Kong’s technological landscape has significantly advanced over the last decade, and therefore the country is in a better position to host major events. In short, the planned expo will be supported by the economic and cultural policies of the Hong Kong government, and the country has all other necessary facilities to host this particular event successfully. See Chart 1 in appendices for more details on Hong Kong’s GDP growth during 2001-2010. 4. Development proposal 4.1 Cultural aspect and the policies While analyzing the cultural aspects and policies of the Hong Kong, it seems that the government gives particular importance to the country’s tourism sector development. The Hong Kong Tourist Commission’s vision is “to establish and promote Hong Kong as Asia’s premier international city, a world class destination for leisure and business visitors” (Case study: Hong Kong 1). The Tourism Commission believes that a proper and unique blend of eastern and western heritage and culture is essential to enhance the stated vision. The Hong Kong Tourism Commission strongly thinks that art development is crucial in promoting the country’s tourism industry. When it comes to cultural policies, the Hong Kong government pays specific attention to fostering arts and cultural development through investing in events. The founding of the Mega Events Fund was to support this policy. The government thinks that events can greatly assist the country to protect and develop its indigenous cultures by spreading a general awareness of the traditional cultural aspects among the audience. According to Hong Kong policymakers, mega events like expos can maximize venue efficiency and improve sales revenues. In addition, the Hong Kong’s cultural policy specifically emphasizes the promotion of sustainable cultural event tourism in the country. Currently, the Hong Kong government encourages organizers to host the event in line with the country’s cultural policy and art development strategies. The government has also initiated a number of event funding programs to raise adequate funds for financing arts, sports, and cultural events. In addition, the Hong Kong officials try to develop cultural themes for all events so as to create better awareness of the country’s cultural aspects among foreign visitors. Therefore, the planned ‘three dimensional painting visual art exhibition’ must give great emphasis on cultural as well as art development policies of Hong Kong. The expo should arrange special halls for displaying Hong Kong’s artistic works that would reflect the cultural uniqueness of the country. Before launching the planned expo, the organizers must consult with key stakeholders like government and other community organizations to identify the possible cultural challenges to the program. This strategy may also benefit the event management team to organize the planned mega event in compliance with the accepted cultural norms of the country. Since Hong Kong government gives great emphasis to art development in the country, it is advisable for the management team to include maximum variety of arts from different parts of the globe, because it would help domestic artists to obtain an improved understanding of global arts. This mega event must be organized in co-operation with related industries in order to boost the nation’s overall tourism sector activities. For instance, the event management team may make tie up with Hong Kong’s tourism sectors to provide transportation, hotel, and other leisure facilities for domestic and foreign visitors who come to attend the expo. In short, the management team must ensure that it does not hurt the cultural beliefs and notions of the community while planning, organizing, or implementing this mega event. 4.2 Economic aspect and the policies While organizing the planned 3D painting visual art exhibition, the management team must pay specific attention to the economic aspects and policies of Hong Kong. As noted already, tourism is a fast growing industry in Hong Kong, and the country is increasingly relying on the tourism sector to grow its economy (see Chart 2 for more details). Currently the country’s economic policy focuses particularly on fostering event tourism because the government believes that it is a potential way to attract modern tourists and to increase the pace of the tourism sector growth. Undoubtedly, the planned expo can significantly contribute to the host country’s event tourism growth because it is relatively new to the modern tourism industry. Another economic policy of the Hong Kong government with regard to tourism is to leverage events for general economic developments. When the event management team organizes the event in close cooperation with related tourism facilities like transportation, hotels, and leisure clubs, it would contribute to the country’s overall economic development. According to the Hong Kong government, venue efficiency must be a major concern while planning a mega event like an expo. While conducting the planned mega event, tens of thousands of foreign and domestic audience would visit the art gallery a day, and therefore it may be a challenging task for the management team to arrange proper security and other facilities for the visitors. At this juncture, it is better for the event management team to think about alternative ways to provide improved exhibition experience to the audience. The team can make arrangements for the viewers to watch the art works on internet as well. This strategy may assist the audience to watch the expo from several selected locations at Hong Kong. This innovative expo idea may attract more audience, and hence benefit the event management team to earn more returns on the investment. According to Ho (2012, p. 55) , the Hong Kong’ economic policy in connection with mega events also relies on events to deal with place marketing, which is the process of enhancing the image of a particular place. Undoubtedly, when the planned mega event is launched in Hong Kong, tens of thousands of foreign people would visit the country, and thus Hong Kong’s repute will be enhanced before the international community. The event management team must try to integrate the event policy with Hong Kong’s venue investment strategies and operations because the country has already framed an event portfolio strategy for community and destination. In addition, the event policy must be also in line with the government’s place marketing and other economic development policies. 5. Recommendations and conclusion From the above discussion, it is clear that Hong Kong maintains unique economic and cultural policies to enhance art development in the country and to host major events successfully. The Hong Kong government has established the Mega Events Fund (MEF) to support major sports, arts, and cultural events and thereby contribute the country’s long term vision of becoming the ‘events capital of Asia’. Hong Kong has many prominent tourist destinations and attractions in addition to developed infrastructure and technological landscape. In short, the country maintains all favorable situations and facilities to host the planned expo successfully, and to seize the resulting tourism growth opportunities. It is advisable for the event management team to interact with local community members, and gather views and opinions from them before actually launching this mega event because active support from the community is inevitable to ensure the success of the event. Based on community interactions, the management team has to make necessary change(s) to the event proposal if necessary. Likewise, it is essential for the management team to ensure the strong support of local, national, and global media. The event will be financially a failure unless the expo is well publicized prior to its launch, and audience participation is ensured. It is also recommendable for the event management team to make better use of social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook to promote the event at cheap costs. This is also a better strategy to cover maximum geographical areas within a short span of time. Finally, the management team must arrange online ticket booking facilities for people across the globe so as to enhance audience participation. 6. References Chen, D. 2008. “To strive, to seek , to find, and not to find: Arts education in Hong Kong: A Model of persistence”. In L. Joubert. Educating in the Arts: The Asian Experience: Twenty-Four Essays. US: Springer Science & Business Media. Case study: Hong Kong 1 Hong Kong Economics and Trade Office, New York. (n.d.). “Director highlights Hong Kong’s growing arts and culture”. [online] available at: http://www.hketony.gov.hk/ny/activities/11/director_highlights.htm [accessed 06 July 2014]. Ho, K. C. 2012. “The cultural economy and the re-layering of space in the city”. In Daniels, P. W et al. New Economic Spaces in Asian Cities: From Industrial Restructuring to the Cultural Turn. US: Routledge. Information Services Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. 2011. “Hong Kong: The facts”. Kao, C. K.2002. “Hong Kong’s technology road map”. In Y. Yeung. New Challenges for Development and Modernization: Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific Region in the New Millennium. Chinese University Press. Owen, J. G. 2007. “Bread or circus? The economics of mega sporting events”. In J. D. Gatrell & Reid, N. Enterprising Worlds: A Geographic Perspective on Economics, Environments & Ethics. Springer Science & Business Media. Ortolani, A. 2008. Frommers Hong Kong Day by Day. US: John Wiley & Sons. The Pulse 2007. “What is a Mega Sport Event?” [online] Nov 1, 2007. Available at: http://www.thepulse2007.org/?p=106 [accessed 06 July 2014]. Press Release 2013. “Mega Events Fund to support two mega events”. Press Release 2014. “Mega Events Fund to support 2014 Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival”. 7. Appendices Chart 1. (Source: http://www.euromoneycountryrisk.com/Wiki/Hong-Kong) Chart 2 (Source: http://www.ceicdata.com/) Read More