The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and the Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF) Society are co-presenting the brand new “No Limits” project this March. Comprising seven dance, theatre, music and other arts performances, as well as a series of education and community programmes, “No Limits” is aimed at exploring and promoting inclusiveness through the arts, providing opportunities for people with different abilities to enjoy and participate in arts performances.   

The “No Limits”opening ceremony was held today. Officiating guests included Club Steward Sir C K Chow; Acting Chief Secretary for Administration Wong Kam-sing; HKAF Society Vice Chairman Professor Lo King-man and Executive Director Tisa Ho; and Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong Vice Chairperson Grace Cheng.

Sir C K Chow said that “No Limits” enabled artists with different abilities to showcase their talents on stage, while the audience could enjoy the arts in a barrier-free environment. “The Club has placed emphasis on four strategic areas: youth; the elderly; sports; and arts, culture and heritage to respond to the different needs of the community and promote the sustainable development of society. We are committed to helping Hong Kong become a culturally vibrant city, enriching lives and promoting social inclusion.” 

 The seven performances are: the opening dance show Gala by French choreographer Jérôme Bel; drama King Arthur’s Nightby Canada’s Neworld Theatre with a cast from British Columbia’s Down Syndome Research Foundation; the immersive artwork Reassembled, Slightly Askew by Shannon Yee; the Little Soldiers concert by Singaporean singer Hanjin Tan, Harris Ho and friends with hearing or visual impairment; a non-verbal interactive performance Mother by Kuro Tanino and Caspar Pichner; a Violin Recital by visually-impaired musician Ding Yijie; and the documentary film Itzhak about the story of Itzhak Perlman, a renowned violinist who contracted polio as a child.

To make these productions more accessible to the disabled, services such as audio descriptions in Cantonese, Hong Kong sign language interpretation and theatrical interpretations will be available at selected performances. “Relaxed performances” will be arranged with a welcoming attitude towards audience noise and movement, adjustable light and sound levels, and designated chill-out zones, creating a supportive atmosphere for audience members with different abilities.

Complementing the performances, the Jockey Club “No Limits” Education and Community Programme was launched at the end of 2018 to further enhance understanding and inclusiveness in the community. Music demonstration tours and train-the-trainer workshops are among the events being organised. Under an Artists-in-Residence Programme, the UK-based Candoco Dance Company has been invited to explore the possibilities of contemporary dance with local dancers of different abilities and backgrounds.          

More details: https://www.nolimits.hk

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charity and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2017/18, the Club made a record return to the Government of HK$22.6 billion in duty and profits tax and contributed HK$1.2 billion to the Lotteries Fund. Approved charity donations were HK$4.2 billion. The Club is Hong Kong's largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is also one of the world's top ten charity donors. The Club is always "riding high together for a better future" with the people of Hong Kong.