Case studies in knowledge transfer from Hong Kong Baptist University: enhancing social integration through arts

Abstract

Since 1956, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has provided Whole Person Education that develops the whole person - grooming not just the workforce of tomorrow but shaping our future leaders. The University also encourages service to society among its staff and students, making it a beloved part of the Hong Kong community. The two case studies presented are from our Knowledge Transfer Partnership programme. These projects were conducted by faculty from our Academy of Visual Arts (AVA). The "Better Community, Better Life" project lead by Assistant Professor Leung Mee Ping is to give young people a shared, creative public platform to explore their local community, learn about other cultures and express themselves on global issues. This project was partly sponsored by the Hong Kong British Council's Connecting Classrooms project, where six partnering secondary schools in the United Kingdom and China worked together on an agreed theme for nearly one year. One of the major challenges of this project was to cross the cultural and societal barrier between the international participants such that all parties can benefit from this exchange. Through this project, secondary school students have enhanced their appreciation and awareness of visual arts with an international perspective. Measurable outcomes from this project such as community reports and artistic exhibits across the participating international schools will be presented. The "V.AI" project lead by Associate Professor Victor Lai is to promote collaboration and to strengthen the impact of knowledge transfer by engaging secondary school visual arts students, and to encourage communication between different parties including social services organization and commercial enterprises. A renowned Hong Kong venue provider and an art advocate - K11, supported this project. Participants took part in a day camp and prepared for the exhibition which will help students, schools and parents to recognize students' potentials and, most importantly, how art making can be beneficial to both the local and global community. One aspect of this project is that the final works to be exhibited will be sold and the revenue generated will be donated to Japan for earthquake relief. Through these events, the secondary school students are given an opportunity to create marketable artworks and design, which enables them to rethink the role of art, artwork and its relationship with (public) space as well as the public. This has raised the community awareness on cross-cultural exchange among secondary school students and the public. The measurable outcomes that will be shared in this presentation are visual documentation of the seminars and workshops, the mentoring programme, pre-exhibition preparation and the exhibition.