The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has been delighted to support the French May Arts Festival for 15 consecutive years, including this year’s opening programme – The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance. Focusing on the iconic Italian Renaissance painting, the Mona Lisa, the exhibition explores the creative spirit and aesthetic ideas of the Renaissance through a multi-media journey centred on this celebrated masterpiece. The narrative is further enriched by art treasures from leading European institutions. The exhibition will be on view at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum from 1 May to 27 July.
The opening ceremony for the exhibition was held today (30 April). Officiating guests included Rosanna Law, HKSAR Government Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism; Manda Chan, HKSAR Government Director of Leisure and Cultural Services; Nicholas Hunsworth, Club Steward; Christile Drulhe, Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, and other guests.
Speaking at the ceremony, Club Steward Nicholas Hunsworth said the exhibition offers an unprecedented hybrid experience, blending centuries-old legacy with immersive technology, and culminating with the vision of Asian artists as a bridge between East and West. The Club’s support for the exhibition, together with its role as the exclusive sponsor of The Jockey Club Community Outreach and Arts Education Programmes, reflects its commitment to nurturing talent, fostering arts appreciation and supporting cultural development in Hong Kong. It also aligns with the Central Government’s vision of developing Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, as outlined in the National 15th Five-Year Plan.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance exhibition is a multi-media showcase that invites visitors to appreciate the Mona Lisa from a new perspective. Specially created for Hong Kong by the Musée du Louvre and the Grand Palais Immersif, the exhibition is narrated by the Mona Lisa herself through a monologue that reveals the captivating stories behind her mysterious smile. Selected treasures from the Musée National de la Renaissance of France, Pinacoteca Ambrosiana of Italy and Ateliers d’art Grand Palais RMN are also featured. Most of the exhibits are being shown in Hong Kong for the first time, including four original sketches and notes by Leonardo da Vinci alongside masterpieces from the Renaissance, including sculptures, paintings, drawings and engravings.
In addition, the exhibition offers interactive multimedia displays that introduce Leonardo's painting techniques, playful games, as well as an immersive photo booth that allows visitors to step into the world of the Mona Lisa. These elements guide audiences to explore and appreciate the iconic Mona Lisa from new perspectives, while delving into the vision and spirit of innovation that defined the Renaissance. The exhibition also features three items from the collection of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, along with paintings by Chinese Mainland artist Xu Lei, presenting Asian artistic perspectives while illustrating the influence of 14th‑century European culture, thereby creating a narrative that bridges East and West. For further details please visit: https://hk.heritage.museum/en/exhibitions/monalisa2026.html
The Club’s Charities Trust is also supporting other programmes in the French May Arts Festival under the theme of “Re/naissance”, including Rendezvous @ Tai Kwun, which features Voûte, an outdoor performance in the Parade Ground by Cirque du Corbak of CNAC, France’s National Center for Circus Arts, which blends music, visual art and technology. In addition, a four-day artist-in-residence programme will promote cultural exchange and collaboration between French and local performers.
In addition, the long-established The Jockey Club Community Outreach and Arts Education Programmes will continue to provide enriching educational and outreach activities including guided tours, workshops, talks and screenings. As every year, the Club will provide support for accessibility services to make the festival more accessible to all.
The Club’s support for the French May Arts Festival, like all its charity and community donations, is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing and responsible sports wagering generate substantial tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class sports and entertainment organisation 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 charities and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the HKSAR Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2024/25, the Club returned a total of HK$39.1 billion to the community. This included HK$30.1 billion to the HKSAR Government in duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$9.0 billion in approved charity donations. The Club is Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is one of the world’s leading charity donors.
