Art Fair returns to Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

May 10, 2021

Arts / Culture / Events /

After an absence of more than two years due to COVID-19, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) is looking forward to hosting Art Basel officially scheduled to take place from 21st to 23rd May for which more than 100 galleries from Asia, Europe and the Americas have confirmed their participation.

In addition, Art Central will run concurrently at the HKCEC for the first time, and is free to attend with registration. The annual French May will continue to offer cultural entertainment, with over 100 events running until 30th June.

In May, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) rolled out the ‘Arts in Hong Kong’ campaign to promote a series of major events, in both physical and digital format, organised by fair organisers and cultural institutions around town. It ensures that audiences can reconnect with art and the vitality of Hong Kong, whether here in person or abroad.

When event venues shut down globally during the pandemic, people flocked online in record numbers to satisfy their deep craving for art and culture. As the world cautiously looks to resume international travel and bring back events, it is fitting that art is a driving force to make this happen, with Hong Kong paving the way in the hope of safely staging large-scale events again.

To ensure that all fair participants have a stress-free experience, best-practice health and safety protocols will be followed, including mask-wearing, timed entry, reduced capacity, wider aisles and regular cleaning.

Art has long had the power to break down boundaries, and unite and inspire people. Thanks to the depth of its imagination and creativity, Hong Kong’s dynamic arts community has nimbly pivoted to offer hybrid physical and virtual events for people around the world.

In addition to Art Basel, which will launch a new digital initiative, ‘Art Basel Live: Hong Kong’, in parallel with the physical show to amplify its international visibility, fairs that have adopted the hybrid format include Art Central and Yim Tin Tsai Arts Festival 2021. While Hong Kong Arts Festival’s PLUS programme is featuring a diverse line-up of online and in-venue experiences, the soon-to-be-opened West Kowloon Cultural District’s M+ museum is offering online movie screenings on demand.

Actively contributing to Hong Kong’s art revival, the HKTB created a dedicated campaign website, www.discoverhongkong.com/Arts, which is a one-stop platform providing essential information about ‘Arts in Hong Kong’ and introducing online showcases, art itineraries, an event calendar, artsy offers, interviews with art insiders, and more.

Image: Art Basel is officially scheduled to take place from 21 to 23 May at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). More than 100 galleries from Asia, Europe and the Americas have confirmed their participation. Courtesy Art Basel

10th February 2021 - Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre’s first exhibition in 2021 reinforces value of face to face events

20th November 2020 - Events successfully return to Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

27th May 2020 - Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre successfully holds first event in wake of COVID-19 crisis

25th February 2020 - Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre welcomes Government exhibition subsidies

29th July 2019 - Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre continues with renovations to maintain world class standards

19th June 2019 - Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre receives UFI Sustainable Development Award 2019

22nd April 2016 - HKCEC new website receives Gold Award in web accessibility recognition scheme

30th November 2015 - HKCEC gains global recognition for leadership role in sustainability

11th August 2015 - HKCEC welcomes record breaking 6.4 million visitors in 2014/15

17th December 2014 - HKCEC voted Asia’s best for the 12th time

18th November 2014 - HKCEC receives international recognition for sustainability

23rd September 2014 - 1,086 events and 5.9 million visitors underscore HKCEC’s services

16th December 2013 - HKCEC marks 25 years of success with clients and partners

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.