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First artwork lending service in Hong Kong "Bring the arts to your life"

The Young Reporter (2003, September), 36(01), pp. 8.
Author: Rebekah Chan Yin-mui. Editor: Alexis Chui Kwok-ching.
Permanent URL - https://sys01.lib.hkbu.edu.hk/bujspa/purl.php?&did=bujspa0015262

By Rebekah Chan Yin-mui

03001237@hkbu. edu. hk

DO you want to brighten up your home or workplace with high quality artworks free of charge?

Starting from August 31, the public can borrow works of art with their public library cards under the scheme “Artwork on Loan”. The Hong Kong Arts Development Council (ADC) with Leisure and Cultural Services Department launched the first artwork lending service to enhance arts appreciation in the local community.

The Artwork on Loan Scheme provides over 100 pieces of artwork in different fields such as digital art, photography, Chinese and Western paintings for public lending.

“Bring the arts to your life” is the theme of the scheme.

According to Darwin Chen, the Chairman of the ADC, everyone can make their home a good place for arts enjoyment and discussion with this artwork lending service. In the past, people had to buy a ticket to visit a gallery or exhibition for appreciate the arts. Now under the scheme, arts appreciation is no longer confined to arts galleries or exhibitions.

Ms Wendy Tso, the Corporate Communications Manager of the ADC, said, “With this scheme, we like to bring arts closer to people from all walks of life. Anyone will have the chance to get in touch with art.”

Artists participating in the scheme agree that the scheme can promote arts and even nurture budding artists.

“You have limited time in an exhibition but when you take the artwork home you can enjoy it more freely,” Leung Mee-ping, one of the participating artists, said, “borrowers of this scheme could be future artists. They can learn a lot from various artworks.”

Ms Wendy Tso added that the scheme could enhance family communication and individual development.

“For example, when a husband brings home an artwork, his wife will ask what it is. And that will make a conversation,” said Ms Tso, “We hope that arts can penetrate into all walks of life so as to stimulate individual development. Under this scheme, arts is no longer expensive and distant. The public can have a more enriching cultural life when they have more choice.”

There are two types of the artwork for public lending. Artwork in scrolls are immediately available. Framed artworks are on reserve. People need to place a reservation to borrow framed artwork.

A total of 27 artists have participated in this scheme, including well-known figures such as Jao Tsung-i, Kwok Mang-ho, Ha Bik-chuen, Choi Yan-chi and Leung Kui-ting.

Among these artists are winners of various awards. Four of them are members of the Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong.

Artw ork on Loan Schem e has excited the readers in Hong Kong Central Library.

“It's very interesting. It gives me an option that I don't have before. I would possibly go and see what they've got,” said Georgina Shellum, a publisher browsing different kinds of books in the library.

“I am interested in this service because I can borrow artwork free of charge now. My hobby is photography so those artwork are excellent background resources,” said Ching Ho-yin, a student at the Hong Kong University.

Hong Kong is no longer a culture desert because the scheme gives the public a better quality of life and adds more colour to the community, said Henry Lin, a form five student strolling in the library.

According to the ARC, as at September 21, it has issued 66 artworks and issued reservation for 14.

Wendy Tso said Hong Kong artists have produced lots of outstanding work but did not have enough channels to promote it to the general public.

She hopes local artists will receive more recognition and will have a wider range of audience through this scheme.

Information about the artwork is on the back cover of each artwork. The ADC also published a catalogue providing background information about the artwork and artists. This is aimed at increasing recognition of arts culture in the local community.

Ng Cheuk-hei, a form five student believed that local artists' works would have more audience through this scheme.

Besides getting more recognition, artists hope the scheme can stimulate the public to appreciate arts.

“It's necessary to get more people to appreciate local arts. We artists need more room for development and more audience. The most important aspect of this scheme is to arouse people's interest in arts,” artist Leung Mee-ping said.

In order to encourage the public to use artwork lending service, the ADC has invited schools to participate in this scheme and launched an online website “E-Gallery” to introduce the artwork and the artists.

The ADC will also arrange artists to hold sharing session with students.

However, not everyone is stimulated to participate in this scheme. Mrs. Chan, a mother of three children, said she would not use this new lending service because it is too bulky to bring large artwork home.

Mrs So who was reading children books with her daughter in the library said she would not use the artwork lending service because she is not interested in arts. However, she said the scheme is definitely a good news for those who love arts.

Edited by

Alexis Chui Kwok-ching

More information about “Artwork On Loan”

*Holders of the individual library card can borrow a maximum of two items.

*Holders of the group library card can borrow a maximum of five items.

*The loan period of each item is 30 calendar days. Borrowers may renew the loan of each item for a maximum of three consecutive times.

*Each overdue item is fined $1.5 per day, up to a maximum of $130.

*If any borrowed item is lost or damaged, the borrower has to pay compensation. The amount will include reproduction cost that ranges from $300 to $400 and administrative fee that is $100.

*All artworks are in A2 size and produced by local artists.

*All artworks are reproduction pieces except “Horse Racing will Continue in Hong Kong” by Tse Ming-chong.

*The public can visit the Arts Resource Centre (ARC), the tenth floor of Hong Kong Central Library to borrow the artwork.

*The E-gallery’s website is www.hkegallery.com

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