[The following is issued on behalf of the Institute of Philanthropy]

Landmark exhibition celebrates the Year of the Horse with artworks spanning centuries of Chinese culture

As one of the highlights of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Year of the Horse campaign, the Hong Kong Palace Museum and the Palace Museum, with exclusive sponsorship from the Institute of Philanthropy (IoP), today launched “Heavenly Horses: Masterpieces from the Palace Museum”. Presenting nearly 100 horse‑themed paintings from more than 60 renowned artists, spanning the Yuan dynasty to the 20th century, the exhibition celebrates the horses as an enduring symbol of perseverance, vitality and national spirit in Chinese culture.

The exhibition is part of a five‑year collaboration between the Palace Museum and IoP to promote Chinese culture and nurture arts-technology talent in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. The aim is to help the younger generation deepen its understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture, while showcasing it in fresh, digital ways. Through interactive experiences with artificial intelligence, lectures and workshops, the exhibition highlights how technology can bring tradition to life. Beyond artistic appreciation, it underscores the strategic role of culture in fostering identity and pride, and in strengthening social cohesion across Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.

Officiating guests at the launch ceremony were HKSAR Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun; Deputy Director General of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Lin Nan; Executive Deputy Director of the Palace Museum, Lou Wei; Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, The Hon Martin Liao; Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and IoP Chairman, Lester Huang; Trustee of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and Deputy Chairman of IoP, Ann Kung; Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and IoP Director, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges; Chairman of the Board of Hong Kong Palace Museum, Leo Kung; Chief Executive Officer of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, Betty Fung; and Museum Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum, Dr Louis Ng.

Speaking at the ceremony, Michael Wong, Deputy Financial Secretary of the Government of the HKSAR, expressed his gratitude to the Hong Kong Palace Museum and the Palace Museum for jointly organising this exhibition, bringing nearly 100 precious equine paintings to Hong Kong. “Since its opening in 2022, the Hong Kong Palace Museum has greatly contributed to promoting cultural tourism in Hong Kong, staging more than thirty exhibitions and welcoming over four million visitors to date,” he said. “The museum has become a must-visit destination for many tourists to Hong Kong. It has exerted tremendous international influence in telling the good stories of Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, further promoting Chinese culture.”

The Hon Martin Liao, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, a founding funder of IoP together with its Charities Trust, said, “The Hong Kong Jockey Club and its Charities Trust established the Institute of Philanthropy as an independent ‘think-fund-do’ tank for China, Asia and beyond. In 2024, IoP announced a donation of RMB 371 million to launch a five-year collaboration programme with the Palace Museum to promote the excellence of traditional Chinese culture, and to deepen understanding and recognition of Chinese history and culture among younger generations in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. This exhibition is a key component of the programme and one of the highlights of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Year of the Horse campaign. Featuring a variety of cultural, arts and community initiatives throughout the year, we aim to spread joyful celebration across the city, promote tourism and advance the development of sports, including horse sports.”

Lou Wei, Executive Deputy Director of the Palace Museum, added, “The Palace Museum has long maintained a close partnership with the Hong Kong Palace Museum, collaborating to showcase the finest of Chinese art and culture to both local and international audiences, and to promote cultural exchange and mutual understanding. This exhibition forms an integral part of a five-year collaboration between the Palace Museum and the Institute of Philanthropy, which aims to promote Chinese culture and nurture arts-technology talent. Horses were not only a vital means of travel in ancient times and representations of ceremonial standards, they also served as the foundation of national defence. They stand as a vivid symbol of the Chinese nation’s resilience and unwavering spirit. With a focus on equine motifs, ‘Heavenly Horses’ guides visitors to explore the artistic vision of renowned masters and uncovers the social landscapes, spiritual aspiration, and cultural exchanges of different eras, offering a deeper understanding of the profound richness and refined subtleties of Chinese civilisation.”

As part of this collaboration, IoP is advancing a strategy of cultural dissemination that combines digital innovation with traditional heritage. The goal is to nurture a generation that carries a strong sense of national identity while engaging confidently with the world, deepening recognition of Chinese history and culture both locally and globally. Building on this vision, IoP is seeking synergy to inspire innovative ideas to address the needs of Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland – contributing to wisdom and solutions that promote the development of national and global philanthropy.

The exhibition is part of the Club’s Year of the Horse campaign, which aims to honour the profound partnership between human and horse and to unite the community through thrilling races, international equestrian spectacles and a special series of cultural, sporting and family events. The year-long campaign is a community celebration, a tourist attraction and an opportunity to promote equine and community sports development. Complimentary tickets and free guided tours of the exhibition will be provided to underprivileged groups and students.

About the Institute of Philanthropy

The Institute of Philanthropy was established in September 2023 through a seed grant of HK$6.8 billion (US$870 million) from The Hong Kong Jockey Club and its Charities Trust. Established as an independent “think-fund-do” tank for China, Asia and beyond, IoP is dedicated to promoting philanthropic thought leadership and enhancing sector capabilities at local, regional and global levels in collaboration with fellow funders. It seeks to provide an Asia-based platform bringing global stakeholders together to promote the betterment of societies everywhere.

About The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Year of the Horse campaign

The Year of the Horse holds special significance for Hong Kong and The Hong Kong Jockey Club (the Club). With its elegance and power, the horse has become an enduring emblem of passion, dynamism and rapid progress – qualities that resonate deeply with Hong Kong’s own “can-do” spirit. Horse racing is not only Hong Kong’s favourite pastime, but a symbol of its prosperity and stability under One Country, Two Systems. Thanks to the success of Hong Kong horses on the international stage, it also brings pride to Hong Kong citizens and global recognition to our city. None of this would be possible without the horse.

With the theme “Riding High Together in the Year of the Horse”, the Club’s Year of the Horse campaign aims to honour the profound partnership between human and horse and to unite the community through thrilling races, international equestrian spectacles and a special series of cultural, sporting and family events. The year-long campaign is a community celebration, a tourist attraction and an opportunity to promote equine and community sports development. A major highlight is the launch of regular racing together with equine-themed sports, cultural and tourism events at Conghua Racecourse, Guangzhou, at the end of October. This will be a significant milestone in the Club’s support for national equine industry development in the Greater Bay Area and beyond. For more information on the Year of the Horse campaign, please visit https://hkjc.com/YOTH.