Voices of the Future: Art Students Graduate This Month!
26-6-15
We had the pleasure of attending the exhibits and speaking with several students at various art graduations this past month. We collected some of our favorite quotes. The future talent looks on the bright side of things, despite the cloudy horizon.
"Art for me is the visual expression of emotion. Everyone can connect with that."- Choi, CityU
"It is a very exciting time for Hong Kong. I'm proud to make art in this time. People will remember and look back to the art now, as reference to great historical moments."- Sally, Hong Kong Baptist U
"No matter what is bad in my life, I have painting and that makes me happy."- Koey, SCAD
"Money is not the point of being an artist. It is sharing your story."- David, CityU
"Success is happiness."- Mary, Hong Kong Baptist U
Please enjoy this video of the Visual Art graduation exhibits made by RTHK's The Works.
The greater question when thinking about these kids is to ask is:
What will these students have to look forward to as they move into the professional world of art?
Is the state of arts education in Hong Kong adequately preparing them for the starving artist lifestyle?
Should we look at diversifying our current arts programs for both theatrical and visual artists in Hong Kong?
Last year 7 Billion dollars was put into arts education in Hong Kong and yet there's no where to receive a BS-Ed in Hong Kong for the discipline of teaching Art, Drama or Dance. (There is currently a BA-BED at HKU for language learning and the arts.) Students who are passionate about teaching drama or dance in a secondary school setting are required to go overseas to get the necessary paperwork to teach in a local school. Conservatory education seems to reign supreme in Hong Kong when it comes to art education. Does that create well-rounded artists or ones that can simply do one thing really well?
Over 2,000 students graduated this week in various art disciplines and their job prospects look less than desirable. 8 out of 10 people who apply for funding through the Arts Development Council are denied. The hiring of local artists at big companies like Hong Kong Ballet and Hong Kong Phil are under scrutiny for their lack of support for local artists. Hong Kong Disneyland is considered a good job when leaving the HKAPA and yet only pays between 10-12K per month for a first year performer.
What can we do and SHOULD we do to improve the current state of the arts in Hong Kong?
Not just for current students but for students of the future...
Share your thoughts below.
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