Hong Kong's largest outdoor youth arts festival and puppet parade Showcases local talent in Causeway Bay And attracts 190,000 visitors

HONG KONG, CHINA  - Media OutReach - 5 November2018 - Standard Chartered Arts in thePark 2018 ended  yesterday after ahugely successful weekend! Attracting 190,000 local and overseas visitors, theannual arts carnival closed with a Grand Finale Parade that comprised a paradeteam of more than 700 youngsters and dozens of local artists, and generatedgreat excitement in Causeway Bay. Mr Kam-sing Wong, GBS, JP, Acting ChiefSecretary for Administration, participated in the launch ceremony before theparade to show his support for the parade team and for the development of localyouth arts.

The Standard Chartered Arts in the Park 2018 Grand Finale Parade was held yesterday! The event consisted of a procession of 12 giant puppets standing at 4 metres in height, plus an exciting parade team of 700 energetic young people to maximise the lively atmosphere.

The Acting Chief Secretary for Administration Mr Kam-sing Wong officiated the Grand Finale Parade launch ceremony, showing his support for the 700 people parade team and for the development of local youth arts.

Standard Chartered Arts in the Park attracted 190,000 visitors this year, who had enjoyed an exciting weekend of sensory art experiences.

Professional local artists had worked with primary and secondary school students and dedicated months of hard work to create these giant puppets and over 700 pieces of parade artworks. During the parade, the students marched through Causeway Bay in confidence to celebrate their vibrant creations with the public.

Throughout the weekend, Victoria Park was packed with fun-filled events, including 16 free interactive art stalls, African Drum Jam sessions, plus non-stop stage performances by 60 talented youth groups.

Organised by Hong Kong Youth ArtsFoundation, sponsored by Standard Chartered Community Foundation and powered byStandard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, this was the 18^th editionof the annual Standard Chartered Arts inthe Park event. Takinginspiration from the classic children's story The Wizard of Oz, this year's two-day spectacle mobilised more than3,500 youth participants, over 700 volunteers, 26 groups of local andinternational artists, and required over 20,000 dedicated hours of preparation toput together the puppets and costumes! Over the weekend, Victoria Park camealive with non-stop stage performances by 60 youth groups, 16 free interactiveart stalls, an exhibition of 450 vintage-style posters, live storytellingperformances, plus this year's special new event, The Emerald City Best Outfit Contest.

Night Parade Transforms Causeway Bay

On Saturday 3 November, Standard Chartered Arts in the Park NightParade transformed Causeway Bay into the Land of Oz and drew large crowdsto Hysan Avenue and Kai Chiu Road to experience the magic. The event featured14 illuminated parade artworks -- 7 spectacular giant puppets and 7 luminouscostumes inspired by favourite characters from The Wizard of Oz -- plus accompanying dancers from Hong Kong YouthArts Foundation. The parade artworks werecreated by professional localartists and the UK-based art group Lantern Company.

With the support ofpartnering sponsor Lee Gardens Association, a selection of parade artworks willbe exhibited between 8 and 22 November at Lee Garden One, open daily from 10amto 10pm)

700-strong Grand Finale Parade Team TakesCauseway Bay by Storm

The pinnacle of Standard Chartered Arts in the Park --the Grand Finale Parade, held yesterdayafternoon (Sunday 4 November), started at the Central Lawn in Victoria Park andmarched through East Point Road and back, drawing great crowds along the way.

The enchanted day-time paradeconsisted of 5 thematic sections inspired by The Wizard of Oz: Munchkin Country, Quadling Country, WinkieCountry, Gillikin Country and the Emerald City. Led by the Wizard of Oz, a4-metre tall giant puppet created by Lantern Company, the parade artworksfeatured 12 giant puppets standing up to 4 metres tall, more than 700 rodpuppets and sensational parade costumes created by professional local artistsand students.

Both Standard Chartered Arts in the Park Night Parade and Grand Finale Parade were co-organised bythe Cultural and Leisure Services Committee of Wan Chai District Council. Theirsupport over the years has helped to promote the event and its mission to localresidents and international visitors, and supported the holistic development ofyoung people in Hong Kong.

Transforming Victoria Parkinto an Arts Education Carnival

This year, Standard Chartered Arts in the Park consistedof 16 free interactive art stalls for visitors to have a go at creating masks,headdresses and simple costumes, face painting, balloon twisting, participatingin African drum jams and more. Throughout the two-day festival, 60 youth groupsperformed live on stage, providing a variety of entertainment that showcasedtheir talent and creativity in traditional dance, jazz, hip-hop, contemporarydance, fancy rope skipping, marching bands, magic, acrobatics, singing in a200-person choir and much more.

Education and the Arts Rolled into One

Standard Chartered Arts in the Park is an annual education programme that helpsyoung people in Hong Kong improve their self-confidence and enhance importantlife skills such as creativity, teamwork and problem-solving through the arts. The six-month programme culminates in a two-dayfree-of-charge festival in November. StandardChartered Arts in the Park first took place in 2001 at Stanley Plaza. Thatyear, the parade consisted of a few hundred participants. Since then, it hasattracted over 3,500 participants from Hong Kong's schools and youthorganisations, who come together to flex their creative muscles withprofessional artists and produce vibrant costumes and giant puppets for twospectacular street parades, plus a variety of stage performances and artstalls.

Inspiredby London's Notting Hill Carnival and Brazil'sRio de Janeiro Carnival, StandardChartered Arts in the Park attracts on average more than 180,000 local and overseasvisitors each year. By providing participants with exciting opportunities inthe arts, Standard Chartered Arts in thePark aims to create a positive, family-oriented arts carnival in Hong Kongthat fosters creativity and appreciation of local talent.

Formore information about Standard CharteredArts in the Park, please visit www.hkyaf.com or follow uson Facebook @SCArtsInThePark.

NOTES TO EDITORS

AboutHong Kong Youth Arts Foundation (HKYAF)

Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation (HKYAF) is acharity that provides access to high quality, non-competitive free-of-chargearts experiences for all young people aged 5 to 25. Established in 1993 byLindsey McAlister OBE, JP, HKYAF organises inclusive and inspirational projectsthat reach out to youngsters of all cultures, backgrounds, languages andabilities, and actively creates opportunities for those who are disadvantagedand underprivileged. Each year, HKYAF reaches over 800,000 people through itsprojects, exhibition and performances.

AboutStandard Chartered

We are a leading international banking group,with a presence in more than 60 of the world's most dynamic markets. Ourpurpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and ourheritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, Here for good.

Standard Chartered PLC is listed on theLondon and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges as well as the Bombay and National StockExchanges in India.

The history of Standard Chartered in HongKong dates back to 1859. It is currently one of the Hong Kong SAR's threenote-issuing banks. Standard Chartered incorporated its Hong Kong business on 1July 2004, and now operates as a licensed bank in Hong Kong under the name ofStandard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary ofStandard Chartered PLC. 

For morestories and expert opinions please visit Insights at sc.com. Follow Standard Chartered on Twitter, LinkedInand Facebook.

About Cultural and LeisureServices Committee of Wan Chai District Council

TheCultural and Leisure Services Committee of Wan Chai District Council isdedicated to coordinating the cultural, leisure, sports, arts and festivecelebrating activities provided by district organizations and governmentdepartments as well as promoting the book fair activities, cultivating readingculture for people in the district, nurturing community spirit, enhancinginvolvement opportunity and fostering social solidarity.