HONG KONG.- The Hong Kong Art Gallery Association opend the second edition of Hong Kong Art Gallery Week with a city-wide public programme of events, talks, tours and exhibitions presented by about 50 member galleries.

Building on the success of the inaugural eight-day event last year, the 2014 edition of Hong Kong Art Gallery Week offers a more ambitious programme over ten days and has attracted support from the Arts Development Council in recognition of its non-profit efforts to promote local artists and arts organisations in Hong Kong.

As the largest-ever art event presented by galleries across the whole city, Hong Kong Art Gallery Week aims to highlight Hong Kong’s year-round art offer and to introduce the culture of gallery-going to new audiences. The 2014 edition focuses on mapping the diverse characteristics of Hong Kong’s evolving art neighbourhoods from Central and Sheung Wan to Chai Wan and South Island.

Adriana Alvarez-Nichol, Head of the Hong Kong Art Gallery Week Committee and Vice-President of the Hong Kong Art Gallery Association said: “Hong Kong is one of the world’s fastest-growing cultural hubs and the leading art sales hub in Asia HKAGA was founded with the aim of developing new connections and relationships within Hong Kong’s vibrant arts sector. Last year, the festival brought over 6,000 art professionals, collectors, university students and the general public together. For the second edition, we want to cement the week as a highlight of the art calendar in Hong Kong and across the region. There will be an enhanced focus on arts education and discovery, developing younger audiences and investing in the next generation of arts practitioners and gallerists.”

The week’s programming is an opportunity for galleries, art professionals and collectors from across the city and abroad to exchange dialogue, presentations and expertise. The public are welcome to visit galleries with special events taking place in the evenings and during the day in focused neighbourhoods. The extensive talks programme will allow the public more intimate access to artists, curators, collectors and cultural opinion leaders as they discuss topics related to Hong Kong’s developing art ecology, including the crucial role of the primary market within it. There will also be dedicated programming for younger audiences of all ages including children’s art workshops, student art tours, family day and participation in a collaborative public artwork.

Key events for public:

• Hong Kong Art Gallery Week: Wednesday, 26 November – Friday, 5 December, 2014

• Art LATES: Friday 28 November in Central and Tuesday 2 December in Soho & Sheung Wan

• Art DAY: Saturday 29 November in Chai Wan & South Island

• Art Bus: Transportation from PMQ to/from Chai Wan & South Island. Art Basel will be supporting the Art Buses operating between galleries and neighbourhoods during the Hong Kong Art Gallery Week.

• Talks Programme: A series of talks focused on topics related to Hong Kong’s Art Ecology

• Education Programme: Interactive Public Art, Children’s Art Workshop