Waves of Whimsical Words Hong Kong Comics @ The 52th Angouleme International Comics Festival, FRANCE

Art for Passion, Art for Life, Art for All

Since 1977, the Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) has been a platform for nurturing and supporting artists, and infusing art into everyday life. Its unique arts and educational programmes aim to make the arts accessible for all. The HKAC believes in the transformational power of art for people from all walks of life. Established more than four decades ago, the HKAC bring art to the people of Hong Kong – by presenting programmes for visual arts, performing arts, moving images and media arts, comics and animation. Other areas also cover arts education, conferences, festivals, public art and community projects, all done with the vision and mission of engaging and inspiring creativity in the Hong Kong community.

In 2000, HKAC founded its educational arm, Hong Kong Art School (HKAS). The HKAS provides award-bearing programmes to nurture artists and art practitioners, as well as short enrichment courses for the general public. The HKAC aspires to engage everyone in the community to become an active participant in the arts – as an enthusiast, an artist or a patron.

Let's continue to embrace 'Art for Passion, Art for Life, Art for All', and share the inspiration.

Official website: hkac.org.hk ^[1]| Facebook: Hong Kong Arts Centre^[2] |

Instagram: @hongkongartscentre^[3]

Comix Home Base

Comics and animation are important local pop culture and artistic creations. Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) has been dedicated to planning and organising diverse and unique activities to promote the arts and culture of comics and animation to the local community and abroad.

Since 2006, HKAC curated Comix Home Base project (CHB), and has been working closely with comics artists, animators, industry practitioners and various government departments to promote local works. Over 800 ani-com-related events are hosted, such as exhibitions, talks, workshops, performances, publications, screenings, public arts, etc.

In recent years, Comix Home Base has continued to proactively orchestrate cross-media collaborations and look for crossovers between comics and different media like public art, movie, dance, intangible cultural heritage, martial arts etc., expanding the creative space for comix. Outside Hong Kong, China, the footprints of Comix Home Base can be found overseas in France, Belgium, Britain, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Japan, Mainland China, Taiwan, China, Singapore, Korea, Russia, Indonesia and Portugal etc. This has facilitated the involvement of numerous Hong Kong comics artists in international collaboration projects. Also, local comics have been successfully published in different foreign versions in European countries and the United States, increasing the international recognition of local comics and animation artists.

Comix Home Base is fully committed to creating a platform for the art of Hong Kong anime and comics to flourish and keep elevating comics that are 'made in Hong Kong' to the global stage with stakeholders.

Official website: www.comixhomebase.com.hk^[4] | Facebook: hkacchb^[5] |

Instagram: @comixhomebase^[6]

About the Co-organiser

Hong Kong Comics and Animation Federation Hong Kong Comics and Animation Federation Limited was founded in 1999, with the aims to: 1. Unite comics and animation industry, promotion of comics & animation culture; 2. Strengthen the positive awareness of the community members on comics and animation; 3. Link around the world comics & animation industry; and 4. Nurture local comics and animation talent.

Official website:www.hkcaf.hk^[7] | Facebook: hkcaf.hk

HK Comics Support Programme Under the sponsorship of the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Hong Kong Animation and Comics Federation has been organising the HK Comics Support Programme (HKCSP) since 2021, which will enter into the fourth edition by January 2025.

The goal of HKCSP is to cultivate comics artists in Hong Kong and support Hong Kong comics enterprises. It provides financial assistance for the creation and promotion of new original comics (subsidised comics), alongside comprehensive support, including training seminars, industry experts' guidance, and a series of promotional activities, to the participating comics enterprises and their comics artists with a view to showcasing the strength of Hong Kong's comics. HKCSP also participates in Hong Kong and overseas exhibitions to increase the exposure of the participating comics artists and their subsidised comics in both Hong Kong and international markets, thereby opening up more business opportunities for them.

Despite the short history of HKCSP, it has already become a significant event in the industry with remarkable results in various aspects: 1. Bringing new vitality to Hong Kong comics: A total of 47 original comics works with diverse themes and styles have been released under the 1st to 3rd HKCSP, bringing new vitality to the comic industry. 2. Expanding overseas markets for Hong Kong comics: The subsidised comics are not only launched in the Hong Kong market, but some of which have been successfully licensed in overseas markets for translation into foreign languages, including French, Italian, Spanish, Ukrainian, English, and Malay, etc., for sale in relevant markets. 3. International recognition of the works: The subsidised comics have received multiple international awards, including the Japan International Manga Award and the BolognaRagazzi Awards in Italy, gaining international acclaim.

HKCSP will continue to provide a platform for the development of Hong Kong's comics industry by fostering the creation and publication of more original comics in Hong Kong.

Official website:www.hkcsp.hk^[8] | Facebook: 港漫動力- 香港漫畫支援計劃| Instagram: hk_comics_support

Innovative Entrepreneur Association Innovative Entrepreneur Association was established in 2007 and is dedicated in promoting various creative entrepreneurship events, advocating the dynamic of 'innovative entrepreneurship', and providing business education. The collaboration with the government and other organisations enables aspiring entrepreneurs to share experiences and business strategies. The association accommodates entrepreneurs in facing challenges and offers advice to enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness and thus fulfilling its social responsibility.

Official Website: iea.org.hk ^[9]| Facebook: ieahk

Go! Illustrators–Hong Kong Picture Book Illustrators at International Book Fairs Promotion Scheme Organised by Innovative Entrepreneur Association (IEA) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), Go! Illustrators– Hong Kong Picture Book Illustrators at International Book Fairs Promotion Scheme aims to nurture talented picture book illustrators in Hong Kong by providing them with mentoring support in content creation, licensing and marketing, as well as assisting them to join reputable book fairs including Bologna Children's Book Fair and Beijing International Book Fair for them to explore external markets.

Official Website: www.goillustrators.hk ^[10]

About the Lead Sponsor Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) established in June 2024, formerly known as Create Hong Kong (CreateHK), is a dedicated office set up by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau to provide one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative industries with a mission to foster a conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries. Its strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, promoting cross-sectoral and cross-genre collaboration, promoting the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries under the industry-oriented principle, and promoting Hong Kong as Asia's creative capital and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community to implement Hong Kong's positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange under the National 14th Five-Year Plan. CCIDA sponsors Hong Kong Comics and Animation Federation to organise HK Comics Support Programme and other projects to promote Hong Kong's animations and comics.

Official Website: www.ccidahk.gov.hk^[11]

Disclaimer: The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.

References

1. ^{^} hkac.org.hk (linkprotect.cudasvc.com)
2. ^{^} Hong Kong Arts Centre (www.facebook.com)
3. ^{^} @hongkongartscentre (www.instagram.com)
4. ^{^} www.comixhomebase.com.hk (www.comixhomebase.com.hk)
5. ^{^} hkacchb (www.facebook.com)
6. ^{^} @comixhomebase (www.instagram.com)
7. ^{^} www.hkcaf.hk (www.hkcaf.hk)
8. ^{^} www.hkcsp.hk (www.hkcsp.hk)
9. ^{^} iea.org.hk (iea.org.hk)
10. ^{^} www.goillustrators.hk (www.goillustrators.hk)
11. ^{^} www.ccidahk.gov.hk (www.ccidahk.gov.hk)