Excerpt from the APPC Post - APPC board member, Darwin Chen on art and philanthropy in Asia:
For most countries in Asia, public support for the arts is at a minimum, apart for some exceptions such as former British colonies like Hong Kong. The creative industry in Hong Kong is regarded as one of the six pillars of economic development. The government is a staunch supporter of the arts and is investing huge resources into the sector – one strong case is the government’s initial USD 3Billon funding for the development of the West Kowloon Cultural District in one of the city’s prime sites.
Most funding for the Arts in Asia comes from private institutions, corporations or individuals. These primarily come from foundations with education as main focus, and find a niche in the arts. Corporate sponsorship is regarded as strategic philanthropy: art as a means of generating community recognition and branding.
Asked why supporting art was important, Mr. Chen says:
Funding for arts and culture is essentially funding for education. Culture and the arts represent different aspects of life, but it is still very much education. The educational system in general is too achievement oriented, always by examination and training for vocation. Culture and the arts is a complement to this current trend of education. It is education for education’s sake; for developing one’s full potential and life.
The arts promote out-of-the-box, lateral thinking, and in real life and beyond the confines of schooling, creativity and innovation flourish in industries such as advertising and film. It is important to support culture and the arts because art as education contributes to the intellectual development of society and ultimately, shapes the identity of a community, a society, a nation.
Photo courtesy of APPC
