[Co-hosted] HeForShe sharing session: Women in the arts and culture arena of Hong Kong

Celebrate Hong Kong's creative power and hear insights about the new normal, new directions and strategies of Hong Kong's arts and culture industry.

Co-hosted with

Embracing both Eastern and Western elements, Hong Kong's arts and culture scene is rich, diverse and world-class. It is a testament to the vibrancy and resilience of Hong Kong, and key to building a successful creative economy.

In addition to helping female employees develop professionally, the arts and culture industry in Hong Kong have also been facing a huge challenge due to the disruptions and gathering restrictions. How does the industry work together to build a completely new environment for events organisers, artists and performers, investors and other stakeholders?

Co-hosted by the French Chamber and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, this webinar will feature four celebrated leaders who excel in a wide spectrum of areas and genres to share their vision of how the industry can thrive despite the challenges.

Joining the webinar are Alison Friedman of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, Tisa Ho of the Hong Kong Arts Festival, Connie Lam of the Hong Kong Arts Centre, and Sheryl Lee of the Haw Par Music Foundation. They will speak about the impact of COVID-19 on arts and cultural events, new strategies, and the best practices to accelerate gender balance and create opportunities for all in the industry.

This promises to be an interactive, fun and inspiring panel discussion. Please join us in celebrating Hong Kong's creative power, and hear first-hand the thoughtful insights of the leaders in Hong Kong's arts and culture arena.

Speakers:

• Alison Friedman
  Performing Arts and Artistic Director, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority
  
  Alison Friedman is the Performing Arts Artistic Director of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA). Having joined the organisation in 2017, she leads multiple teams in the Performing Arts Division to facilitate the development of WKCDA into a regional and global leader in performing arts.
  
  Friedman was a Fulbright scholar in the Department of History in Peking University and the Beijing Dance Academy in Mainland China from 2002 to 2003. Fluent in Mandarin, she founded the cultural exchange organisation Ping Pong Productions in 2010 and also served as a Board Member of the International Society for the Performing Arts, a major international alliance of performing arts leaders.
   
• Tisa Ho
  Executive Director, Hong Kong Arts Festival
  
  Since becoming the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF), Tisa Ho has introduced more large-scale events and encouraged the production of more original work by local artists. A firm believer in the infinite possibilities of the stage, Ho believes that HKAF can be the platform for which local and international artists find their true selves. Under her guidance, HKAF performances are supported by educational events as well as the Young Friends programme designed to extend the impact of HKAF's work.
  
  Outside of HKAF, Ho has helped establish the HK Arts Administrators' Association's annual Cultural Leadership Summit as its Board Chair. Ho is also on the international faculty of the Accademia Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy, the Lisbon Consortium in Portugal, and the International Advisory Committee of the Tong Yeong Concert Hall in South Korea, just to name a few.
   
• Connie Lam
  Executive Director, Hong Kong Arts Centre
  
  Having joined the Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) in 1997, Connie Lam has been its Executive Director since 2009. Possessing a wealth of production experience in various art forms including visual art, film and video, and media art, she is dedicated to cultivating the arts. In recent years, she has shifted her focus to develop her international network so as to foster cultural exchange programmes which can create new possibilities for local artists.
  
  Lam was awarded the Medal of Honour from the Hong Kong Government in 2014 for her contributions to the promotion of arts, short film, animation, and comics. She was also a grantee of the Asian Cultural Council Fellowship in 2015.
   
• Sheryl Lee
  Executive Director, Haw Par Music Foundation
  
  Sheryl Lee is the Executive Director of Programming of the Haw Par Music Foundation, a centre for cross-cultural exchange through music, heritage, and the arts, with a social initiative. A Hong Kong-born pianist by training, Lee has garnered awards and international acclaim for her solo, orchestral and chamber music performances across Asia, Europe, and North America.
  
  In addition to her work with Haw Par Music Foundation, Lee is also one of the curators and founders of Chiczando Concept & Culture Limited, a leading marketing consultancy specialising in arts and culture in Greater China. Lee currently serves as Board Chairman of Music Children Foundation, Council Member of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, the Hong Kong New Music Ensemble, and Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund Awardees Association.
   
• Moderated by Nikki Ng (Group General Manager, Sino Group & Women Executives Club Chair, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce)