The cultural affairs section promotes cultural exchange between Switzerland and Hong Kong/Macau. It helps connect Swiss artists in a variety of fields such as music, dance, drama or photography with useful contacts in this part of the world.
Regularly the cultural affairs section organizes or co-hosts various events and exhibitions with a Swiss interest and works closely with organisations such as the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia.
Studio Residencies
A studio residency (3 months) in China or, conversely, in Switzerland gives artists the chance to gain a broad insight into a different cultural environment. The aim of the residency is to find inspiration, establish networks and contemplate new projects and cooperations. In addition to a place to work and accommodation, Pro Helvetia will provide specific coaching. The Swiss Arts Council covers the cost of travel, insurances and per diem expenses. Applicants may benefit three times in total from a Pro Helvetia studio residency.
Selection criteria
convincing track record: personal artistic activity above and beyond regional level
Swiss documentarian Jacqueline Zünd frequents the distant but intimate lives of people from around the world – the insomniacs, the aged and the children – embracing their delights and disappointments, regrets and hopes, and other contrasting sensations. As these people wander along their paths of ritual, befittingly or misfittingly, they understand life anew with wisdom, dignity and vitality.
Location: Louis Koo Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
A cross-cutltural event you cannot miss. Park Stickney and GuoGan first performed together at the 2017 World Harp Congress in Hong Kong, and immediately found that the harp and erhu worked really well together, combining the singing tones of the erhu with the harp’s chromatic and rhythmic possibilities.
Location: 5/F, Sheung Wan Civic Center, 345 Queen’s Road, Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building, Hong Kong
Venture Leaders Fintech 2019, co-organized by Venturelab and swissnex China, will take place from November 3rd to 9th, where the 10 leading Swiss Fintech startups will participate in the Hong Kong Fintech Week, the world’s first cross-border fintech conference, as well as mentoring workshops, investors meetings, pitching events and visits in Hong Kong and Shenzhen ecosystems.
Location: AsiaWorld-Expo, Airport Expo Blvd, Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong
In 2010, the Swiss entrepreneur Marco Simeoni created the Race for Water Foundation to fight against plastic pollution in the oceans. Committed to a five year Odyssey (2017-2021), the ambassador vessel of the Foundation is going around the world to raise awareness about the impact of plastic waste on the marine environment and propose local solutions to this global problem, thanks to a machine which transforms plastic waste into electric energy: the BIOGREEN. A unique ambassador for energy transition, the Race for Water vessel is propelled solely by renewable energies thanks to its solar panels, its traction kite and its chain of hydrogen production and storage.
Hong Kong Design Institute and Zurich University of the Arts are collaborating again offering a five-day in-depth training in 2019. Swiss Inspiration: From Design Thinking to Design Doing in the Digital Age.
Location: Hong Kong Design Institute, 3 King Ling Road, Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong
Anja Kofmel already admired her cousin Chris as a little girl. His mysterious death in the midst of the wars in Yugoslavia in 1992 still keeps her occupied. Especially as the young Swiss journalist wore the uniform of an international mercenary group at the time of his death. What happened?
The movie tells the story of a young woman from Indonesia, who leaves her country to support her family and her younger sister’s education by working as a domestic worker in Hong Kong. She will face hardship and form unlikely friendships along the way. The film projection will be followed by a panel discussion to give to the people an opportunity to talk about those issues and to give a voice to the migrants especially since the mid-Autumn Festival highlights their position of ‘outsiders’.
Location: The University of Hong Kong, CPD-3.04, Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus
Recent history and Elizabethan drama overlap in a unique fusion of theatre and legal trial. Real-life barristers, a judge, other legal professionals and a “jury” formed by the audience will take part in a “trial” of Hamlet for the murder of Polonius. The unscripted and interactive play by Roger Bernat and Yan Duyvendak awakens the audience’s sense of ethics, drawing them to realise how difficult it is to judge someone and giving them insight into how justice is administered.
Location: JC Cube, Tai Kwun Theatre, Central, Hong Kong
It has been our third year participating in the Hong Kong Book Fair. This year, we will be having a Swiss-Taiwanese author coming especially for this event. Stay tuned with us to learn more of the events we are organizing! Looking forward to meeting you there.
Location: 1A-A23, Hall One, Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Center, 1 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Summer is near that means... RISE is just around the corner!
On July 8, WHub is organising the RISE's satellite Community Party together with China Accelerator.
RISE is the perfect opportunity to meet old and make new friendships with key players in the startup ecosystem. This is an opportunity not to be missed, so join us for on July 8!
Come and find out more about the GBA tech startup scene on July 8th May where you will meet startups, investors, partners, and way more...
Location: Spaces, 181 Des Voeux Rd, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Two electronic wizards Claudia Cerri and Nikola H. Mounoud known as NuR and • • • (from Geneva and Montreux) will be performing in Macau and Hong Kong in July during their two-month Asian tours.
Well-acclaimed Swiss dance artist and choreographer Fabrice Mazliah, will present his new solo production, “Made in China" performed by Tilman O’Donnell at the Hong Kong International Choreography Festival.
Location: Sheung Wan Civic Center Theatre, Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building, 345 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong
Young Artist in Residence @ V54
An initiative run by a local charity, Po Leung Kuk, aiming to provide low rental fees and short-term residencies for young artists, to encourage them to express their appreciation of Art and Culture of East & West and life history, and also to make contributions to society by promoting the value of Art and Culture to young people.
