Two-month summer learning programme encompasses internships and diverse art and cultural experiences in Beijing and Hong Kong, inspiring cultural exchange and promoting cultural inheritance

The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) launched its flagship youth-learning initiative "Bi-city Youth Cultural Leadership Programme" (the Programme) last year to reinforce its longstanding commitment to promoting Chinese culture inheritance and fostering cultural exchange. As a highlight of the second edition of the Programme which commenced in July 2023, a cultural exchange session with the Palace Museum was successfully held in Beijing today.

16 participating students from Beijing and Hong Kong had an insightful discussion with Dr Wang Xudong, Director of the Palace Museum; Lou Wei, Executive Deputy Director of the Palace Museum, and Dr Louis Ng, Museum Director of the HKPM on topics such as promoting the inheritance of Chinese culture, the future of cultural enterprises, and the application of technology and innovation in cultural promotion.

With Swire Properties as the Lead Sponsor, the two-year Programme is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, the Palace Museum and the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China in Beijing (Beijing Office). Since its launch in 2022, the Programme has garnered enthusiastic participation from students attending universities and tertiary institutions in Hong Kong and Beijing.

In its second edition, 16 outstanding students from the two cities have been selected to join a two-month immersive learning programme. The highlight of the Programme was the full-day exchange and visit to the Palace Museum today. Students visited the Department of Conservation Science today to learn about the Museum's application of technology in artifact conservation. The students also watched a VR video and visited various galleries and attractions inside the Museum.

At the afternoon session, Dr Wang Xudong, Director of the Palace Museum; Lou Wei, Executive Deputy Director of the Palace Museum; Dr Louis Ng, Director of the HKPM; Tim Blackburn, Chief Executive of Swire Properties; Liu Haisheng, Inspector at Level 2, Department of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China; and Amy Yuen, Deputy Director of The Office of the Government of the HKSAR in Beijing had an exchange session with the students. Dr Wang Xudong shared valuable insights on the Palace Museum's innovative developments in recent years during his lecture, while the students also shared their creative ideas on the topic of reimagining the future of museums. Topics including the role of museums in facilitating the Chinese culture inheritance, as well as cultivating the next generation of well-rounded cultural talents from the two cities, were also covered.

Lou Wei, Executive Deputy Director of the Palace Museum, said, "The Palace Museum has long recognised the significance of cultural exchange and integration between Beijing and Hong Kong. We are committed to organising more cultural activities, exhibitions, and academic seminars to deepen the exchange and promote the inheritance of the excellent Chinese traditional culture. As the supporting organisation for the "Bi-city Youth Cultural Leadership Programme", we are glad to have partnered with the Hong Kong Palace Museum, to cultivate the next generation of visionary and young cultural leaders, foster the cultural creativity in both cities and showcase the excellence of Chinese traditional culture to the world. This endeavour will enable the 5,000-year-old Chinese civilisation to continue to thrive through ongoing exchanges and self-learning."

Tim Blackburn, Chief Executive of Swire Properties, said, "The younger generation represent the future of our communities. We are delighted to continue supporting the ‘Bi-city Youth Cultural Leadership Programme' as it kicks off its second edition, with a thought-provoking in-person exchange in Hong Kong and Beijing. This is a fantastic opportunity for these 16 students to learn, to participate in amazing experiences and exchange ideas, especially here the Palace Museum today. Moving forward, as a key part of our placemaking efforts, we will continue to foster a passion for arts and culture and an appreciation of cultural heritage among the youth to educate, inspire and bring positive change. More importantly, we aim to contribute to nurture the next generation of all-rounded leaders and help raise Hong Kong's profile as a cultural hub."

Dr Louis Ng, Director of the HKPM, said, "Promoting the inheritance of Chinese culture is at the core of the Hong Kong Palace Museum's mission. We are very grateful for the strong support from the Palace Museum and would like to extend our gratitude to Dr Wang Xudong for sharing the Palace Museum's vision in promoting the profound Chinese traditional culture to the world. Thanks also go to other supporting organisations for enabling students from both cities to engage in a variety of exchange activities and immerse themselves in the splendour of Chinese culture. We are grateful for the support from Swire Properties, their contribution has made this programme happened. We look forward to this initiative bringing positive and far-reaching impacts on nurturing and inspiring future cultural leaders, thereby supporting the two cities in jointly promoting Chinese culture to ‘go global' and strengthening Hong Kong's position as an international hub for future cultural and art leaders."

The "Bi-city Youth Cultural Exchange Programme" is a cultural exchange platform for the youth in Beijing and Hong Kong, to spark their creativity, broaden their horizon, with the ultimate goal to nurture the next generation of cultural talents. Designed by its programme partner Ednovators, the first edition of the Programme, which comprised eight online exchange activities, concluded in February this year with the participation of 95 university students from Beijing and Hong Kong.

In its second edition which commenced in July 2023, 16 outstanding university students were selected to participate in a series of cultural exchange and learning activities in Hong Kong. During one of their visits to the Hong Kong Palace Museum, the students had the opportunity to meet with John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, who encouraged the participants to study diligently and share their newfound knowledge with the wide society in the future, thereby continuing to tell the positive stories about Hong Kong.

The students also attended talks hosted by industry experts, joined a design mindset and innovative workshop, visited other arts and cultural landmarks in both cities such as Taikoo Li Sanlitun and ArtDist in Beijing as well as Blue House in Hong Kong, and gained valuable internship experience in Hong Kong's leading cultural and art institutions such as the HKPM, the M+, West Kowloon Cultural District Performing Arts Division, and four museums managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

Student participants from Beijing will show students from Hong Kong around Beijing tomorrow (23 August 2023), leading them to experience local culture and gain a deeper understanding of the juxtaposition of traditional Chinese culture and modern life.

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About the Hong Kong Palace Museum
The Hong Kong Palace Museum aspires to become a leading institution on the study and appreciation of Chinese art and culture while advancing dialogue between world civilisations. The Hong Kong Palace Museum is a collaborative project between the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and the Palace Museum, and is funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with a donation of HK$3.5 billion for its establishment, as well as some of the annual exhibitions and education programmes in 2023–2031.

Embracing new curatorial approaches, the Museum combines a Hong Kong perspective with a global vision to present precious artefacts from the Palace Museum and other important cultural institutions around the world. Through research, exhibitions, and educational and professional exchange programmes, the Museum aims to build international partnerships and position Hong Kong as a global hub for art and culture. At heart a resource that belongs to the local community, the Museum strives to inspire community engagement, foster dialogue, and promote creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration.
https://www.hkpm.org.hk/

About the West Kowloon Cultural District
The West Kowloon Cultural District is one of the largest and most ambitious cultural projects in the world. Its vision is to create a vibrant new cultural quarter for Hong Kong on 40 hectares of reclaimed land located alongside Victoria Harbour. With a varied mix of theatres, performance spaces, and museums, the West Kowloon Cultural District will produce and host world-class exhibitions, performances, and cultural events, providing 23 hectares of public open space, including a two-kilometre waterfront promenade.
https://www.westkowloon.hk/

About Swire Properties
Swire Properties develops and manages commercial, retail, hotel, and residential properties, with a particular focus on mixed-use developments in prime locations at major mass transportation intersections. Swire Properties is listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and its investment portfolio in Hong Kong comprises Taikoo Place, Pacific Place, Cityplaza, Citygate Outlets. The Company's completed portfolio in Hong Kong comprises approximately 16.6 million sq ft (approximately 1.54 million sqm) of space.

In the Chinese Mainland, Swire Properties has six completed mixed-use developments in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu. They include Taikoo Li Sanlitun and INDIGO in Beijing, HKRI Taikoo Hui and Taikoo Li Qiantan in Shanghai, Taikoo Hui Guangzhou and Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu. INDIGO II in Beijing, Taikoo Li Xi'an and a new retail-led project in Sanya are currently under development. The Company's completed portfolio in the Chinese Mainland comprises approximately 14.1 million sq ft (approximately 1.31 million sqm) of space.

In addition to Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, the Company has investments in the United States, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand.
Swire Properties Website：https://www.swireproperties.com/zh-hk/