The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival exemplifies the multi-faceted exchange and integration platform for regional talents

Supported by all major arts groups in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA), this cultural exchange platform contributes to the continued flourishing of the cross-border artistic scene.
The GBA festival has also developed into a vital showcase that facilitates the creative flow of both established and up-and-coming talents from the region.

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Standing ovation for the dance drama “Wing Chun” special edition. Credit: Leisure and Cultural Services Department

Published: 5:43pm, 16 Dec 2024

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With Hong Kong debuting as the host, the GBA festival celebrates the arts in their full diversity, immersing audiences in the region in the exploration of infinite possibilities and elevating their appreciation to another level.

A vibrant platform for cultural exchange, the GBA festival fosters deeper connections and understanding in the GBA. By bringing together diverse artistic talents from different cities, it has succeeded in promoting cultural and artistic integration.

“The GBA festival is an excellent platform for promoting cultural exchange between Guangzhou and Hong Kong, as it provides us with opportunities to get to know and collaborate with one another,” says Monkey Sit, a singer-songwriter in Hong Kong, who has co-written a song with Mover, a Cantopop band from Guangzhou. They performed it live together at the concert “POP KONG”.

“We’ve learned about each other's living habits and environments before creating music together. The most unforgettable aspect is that the entire piece was completed remotely via the Internet. We exchanged and modified the lyrics and melodies across regions, and ultimately succeeded in finishing a piece that is full of our unique characteristics,” Sit says of his co-creating experience with the Mainland pop band.

A spokesman for Mover says the group was thrilled with the opportunity. “We are delighted to have collaborated with Monkey. The musical clash allowed us to create something different from our previous works. Ultimately, music always comes first.”

Monkey Sit (middle) performed with the Cantopop band Mover in the “Pop Kong” concert. Credit: 16th Productions Ltd

Sharing Sit’s sentiment is Wang Dongyun, director of Xinghai Concert Hall Programme Production Centre in Guangzhou and the Programme Director for “ChoreoMusica Soiree”, the Hong Kong version of“ChoreoMusica Soiree” originally created by Xinghai. “The GBA festival provides an important platform for promoting the development of the performing arts industry in the GBA. It encourages outstanding troupes and artists from the region to participate in tours and performances within the region. It also offers opportunities for interaction and in-depth cooperation among regional artists,” she notes.

Through curating a series of collaborative programmes, the GBA festival promotes cultural and artistic integration. Artists from diverse backgrounds in the region share their unique perspectives and hone their crafts, creating a rich tapestry of cultural diversity.

Wang is positive about her experience. “Together with Hong Kong artists and dancers, we interacted and communicated with an open mindset, jointly exploring the possibilities of artistic fusion. It has brought new vitality to cross-disciplinary art,” she says.

The exploration of art is endless, and the greatest achievement of this collaboration was completing a cross-disciplinary creation together on the same stage, she adds. “Artists from every field were inspired, attempting to change, innovate, and blend with one another.”

From left: Tsang Man-tung, Ding Jiaying and Wang Dongyun shared their collaboration experience with the audience during the meet-the-artists session. Credit: Leisure and Cultural Services Department

The GBA festival plays a pivotal role in facilitating development opportunities that help cultivate regional artistic talents, creating a continuous flow of creativity and innovation. Artistic Director and Director of “ChoreoMusica Soiree”, Tsang Man-tung, believes the most important aspects of collaboration are understanding and respect. “First, we need to understand each other's creative and cultural backgrounds, and then extend this understanding to discussions of artistic fields including music, dance, and theatre. During this collaboration, Xinghai and us respected each other's responsibilities, and our mutual pursuit of art allowed us to work in sync to complete the entire programme,” says Tsang.

The Mainland conductor of “ChoreoMusica Soiree”, Ding Jiaying, echoes Tsang’s view. “Tsang gave us the freedom to explore and experiment, without rigidly demanding a specific style. This provided the inspiration we needed and motivated everyone to fully engage and feel the music.”

Participating artists and arts groups cherish the pleasant memories of the festival’s cultural exchange platform. Christina Huang Danyang, trained in Hong Kong, joined the dance drama "Wing Chun" team as a new actor in August 2024. She says it was a major challenge to reach the same level as the original cast dancers in such a short time. “After one rehearsal, the troupe leader suggested that I try writing a character biography from the first-person perspective of the character to interpret what they see and experience, which would help me shape the character.”

“So, I began writing and, upon completion, translated each sentence of the character biography into actions and expressions in the actual environment, constantly honing and seeking the most suitable way to express them,” Huang recalls. “The troupe leader, after reviewing my work, told me that vividly shaping and presenting a character is achieved through my performance, using actions, expressions, and full emotions to convey my thoughts and feelings to the audience.”

Conductor Fung Ka-hing (left) and Christina Huang Danyang (right). Credit: Leisure and Cultural Services Department

Regarding the cooperation on the dance drama "Wing Chun" special edition, local conductor Fung Ka-hing says it was very smooth, greatly boosting the team’s confidence and laying a solid foundation. “We hope the outcome of this work will become a pioneer in the artistic exchange and cooperation between the Mainland and Hong Kong. We hope to continue such collaborations in the future, truly merging the best aspects of both regions, elevating them, and presenting them to the world.”

The GBA festival was presented by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Government of the Hong Kong SAR, the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, and the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region.