Higher standards set for arts groups' funding overhaul

The Hong Kong Arts Development Council said on Thursday that the government’s move to tie the funding mechanism for major performing arts groups to performance and artistic merits will encourage the industry to deliver higher performance standards. Under the new mechanism, a baseline subvention and a performance-based grant will each occupy half of the annual allocation. The performance-based subvention will be calculated based on major performing arts groups’ non-government revenue, along with key performance indicators, such as their audience sizes and governance. Medium-sized arts groups could be promoted to become major ones if they continuously deliver an outstanding performance in those areas. Better performing groups can receive more funding, while underperforming ones could lose their status. The reform will be launched gradually starting 2027-28, before it is fully implemented in 2032-33. Speaking on RTHK, the council's vice-chairman Chris Ip said that the move would help to cultivate arts groups. “First, I believe after the reform, it will allow major performing arts groups, no matter the pursuit of artistic merits, administration and talents, they will have a goal to do better. This will contribute to the healthy development for arts groups and the ecosystem of the whole cultural and arts sector," he said. "Second, I have also noticed...