HKU Bulletin May 2015 (Vol. 16 No.2)

The University Artists Scheme has expanded into new areas, widening the variety of arts and artists brought into the students’ sphere of experience. It is now one of the Arts Faculty’s flagship outreach initiatives. Art for Art’s Sake to include visual artists and poets. This year’s artists are filmmaker Mr Fruit Chan, film producer Mr John Sham Kin-fun, cellist Mr Trey Lee, visual artists Ms Anne Hayes and Mr Glenn Davidson of Artstation and poet Mr Henri Cole. The idea for UAS was hatched in 2005–2006 when the Departments of Music and Comparative Literature were already inviting musicians or filmmakers to the University to visual and performing artists of the highest calibre; engaging students and the University community at large in interaction and dialogue on culture and the arts; and fostering greater appreciation of and lifelong involvement in the arts by integrating artists into students’ intellectual and social development.” The first groups in 2008–2010 and 2011–2013 comprised artists in the fields of music, film and drama, and that has now been expanded Launched in 2008, the Arts Faculty’s University Artists Scheme (UAS) has brought students into contact with invited artists and given them opportunities to learn the creative process in ‘hands-on’ ways they might not otherwise experience. Said Professor John Carroll, Associate Dean for Outreach since November 2012: “The purpose of UAS is to enrich the creative and cultural life of the University community by appointing HKU students join Ms Anne Hayes (second from left) and Mr Glenn Davidson (first from right) of Artstation in creating the site-specific paper installation Meeting Point at the entrance of Chi Wah Learning Commons. From left: Mr Fruit Chan, Mr Trey Lee, Mr John Sham Kin-fun, Mr Henri Cole, Mr Glenn Davidson and Ms Anne Hayes. talks, performances, master classes and workshops – during their two-year appointment. Thousands of people, including members of the University and the wider community, have benefited from these activities – most of which are free – over the nine years that the Scheme has been running. So far in the current UAS, cellist Mr Trey Lee has given two master classes to students in the Advanced Music Performance class and involved HKU students in his three Musicus concerts, which also featured renowned international musicians. In addition to Trey’s performance, the concert programme included the world premiere of a work by HKU PhD candidate Mr Gordon Fung Dic-lun. HKU students were also involved in putting together the programme notes for the three performances through their participation in the Musicus Inspires! education initiative launched by the Musicus Society in partnership with UNICEF Hong Kong. Mr John Sham has conducted three class visits, including two to Common Core courses. He is to promote knowledge exchange and to encourage creative and critical thought in everyone.” Artists are chosen by a committee comprising the Associate Dean for Outreach and representatives from the Departments of Comparative Literature, Music and Fine Arts, as well as, more recently, the School of English. The main criteria are that the artists be of excellent standard and that their portfolio complements Arts’ existing syllabus. While few students become artists, many of them will work with artists in various capacities. The UAS gives them the opportunity to understand creative processes. Funding is vital to the continued excellence of the UAS: Dr Alice Lam is providing the funding for the current UAS term (2014–2016); Dr Tam Wah-ching supported the original 2008–2010 scheme and the 2011–2013 scheme was funded by Mr Daniel Chan. Usually, participating artists will be involved in six activities – including class visits, public perform or interact with students. For example, in 2005 Comparative Literature hosted the film premiere of Mr Stanley Kwan’s Everlasting Regret and the Department Chairperson, the late Dr Esther Cheung, invited the director to be an artist-in-residence. Representatives from the Departments of Comparative Literature, Fine Arts and Music then put together a proposal to expand such initiatives. With funding provided by the Wah Ching Fund, the UAS was born, enabling the Faculty to take the development of humanities to a new level. Masters of their craft As then Vice-Chancellor Professor Lap-Chee Tsui commented at the time, not only does UAS give students “opportunities to question true masters of their craft, to have their own work critiqued by these masters and to observe how they put their amazing skills into practice… [but] the Scheme is also an excellent platform for engaging with the wider Hong Kong community. One of our institutional aims Award-winning cellist Mr Trey Lee (right) holds two master classes with students from the Department of Music’s Advanced Music Performance course. Renowned film producer Mr John Sham (right) conducts three class visits for sharing with students his past experience and perspective on Hong Kong film industry. Unlike the gallery or curated space, the University is an alternative which is deeply viable for artists. Because of this access to people who think and pay attention to things, it’s such a pleasure to have some really meaningful exchanges… Mr Glenn Davidson The University of Hong Kong Bulletin | May 2015 50 | 51 Arts and Culture