The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM or Museum) is pleased to announce the launch of the Hong Kong Palace Museum Pilot Chinese Art Professional Training Programme (“Programme”), which will be implemented from 2025 to 2030. Supported by the Hong Kong-based Robert Chang Art Education Charitable Foundation (“the Foundation”) as Lead Sponsor, the Programme aims to enhance the professional development of the HKPM staff through fellowships at leading museums around the world. This Programme underscores the Museum’s commitment to promoting the study and appreciation of Chinese art and culture by nurturing top museum talents in Hong Kong.
The sponsorship agreement signing ceremony was held today at the Museum. The agreement was signed by Toi Cheung, Director of Robert Chang Art Education Charitable Foundation and Dr Louis Ng, Museum Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum.
The sponsorship will support about 15 staff members from the HKPM each year to attend study visits (ranging from one to four weeks) to major museums, focusing on one of the five areas: Chinese art curatorial practices, museum education, design, exhibition planning and management, and publication. The Programme will enable HKPM staff to learn the best practices from experts at leading international museums, share their own expertise, expand their professional networks and the Museum’s global partnerships.
Over the course of five years, approximately 75 emerging and mid-career Chinese art curators, educators, designers, as well as exhibition managers and editors from the HKPM will benefit from the Programme. Its impact will be further expanded through talks, academic papers, exhibitions, and publications accessible to both scholars and the public.
Toi Cheung, Director of the Robert Chang Art Education Charitable Foundation, said, “My late father was a collector of classical Chinese art for over 70 years. In 2021, he established the Robert Chang Art Education Charitable Foundation with the aim of supporting and promoting the appreciation and conservation of Chinese art, as well as cultural heritage and education, along with other charitable endeavours.
Education is the cornerstone of cultural inheritance. The Foundation hopes to carry forward the essence of China’s ancient culture through education and bring it forward in the new era. We are honoured to sponsor this meaningful Programme to help advance curatorial training in Hong Kong. It is one of the Foundation’s first major sponsorship projects. We hope to continue promoting the arts for the benefit of a broader audience and our society as a whole.”
Dr Louis Ng, Museum Director of the HKPM, said, “The generous sponsorship from the Robert Chang Art Education Charitable Foundation is pivotal to the Museum's long-term development as a world-class institution. This initiative presents an invaluable career development opportunity for Chinese art museum professionals in Hong Kong. I hope that the Programme will help strategically position Hong Kong as a global leader in Chinese art and a vibrant hub for international cultural exchange.
More details regarding the Hong Kong Palace Museum Pilot Chinese Art Professional Training Programme will be shared in due course.
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About the Hong Kong Palace Museum
Through innovative curatorial approaches, the Hong Kong Palace Museum presents priceless treasures from The Palace Museum along with the finest collections from other worldrenowned institutions. The Museum is also in the process of building its own world-class collection. Opened in 2022, the Museum is a leading institution for the study and appreciation of Chinese art and culture and the promotion of dialogue among world civilisations. The Museum is a collaborative project between the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and The Palace Museum. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust made a donation of HK$3.5 billion for its establishment, as well as some of the annual exhibitions and education programmes in 2023–2031.
Through research, exhibitions, publications, and educational and professional exchange programmes, the Museum builds international partnerships and positions Hong Kong as a global hub for art and culture. A resource that belongs to the local community, the Museum inspires community engagement, fosters dialogue, and promotes creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The Robert Chang Art Education Charitable Foundation
The Robert Chang Art Education Charitable Foundation was founded in 2021 by the legendary collector Mr Robert Chang Chung Shien (1927–2024). The Hong Kong-based Foundation is Mr Chang's legacy to benefit worthy causes in the promotion of Chinese art, education and other charitable pursuits under the stewardship of the Foundation's directors: Toi Cheung, Chi Fan Tsang, Vivian Xu, Carrie Li and Adam To.
About the West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK)
WestK is one of the largest and most ambitious cultural hubs in the world and Hong Kong’s new cultural tourism landmark, spanning 40 hectares alongside Victoria Harbour. WestK comprises a mix of landmark arts and cultural facilities, including world-class museums M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, intricately designed performing arts venues the Xiqu Centre and Freespace, the 11-hectare Art Park with a waterfront promenade, and the upcoming WestK Performing Arts Centre.
Hosting over 1,000 exhibitions, performances, programmes, and events each year, WestK provides a vital platform for both emerging and established artists. WestK welcomes more than 10 million visitors each year, evolving as the international cultural brand of Hong Kong and strengthening the city’s strategic role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
https://www.westk.hk
