Keynote Speech 1
New Business Models and Innovation for the Arts & Culture Industry
Speaker
Paolo Gep Cucco
Creative Director, D Wok s.r.l
Paolo Gep Cucco is the Creative Director of D-wok (https://d-wok.it/), an Entertainment Design company, and formerly the Creative Director at Prodea Group for a decade. His distinguished career includes directing and designing for grand events worldwide:
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Dubai Water Canal Grand Opening
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World Archery Game Opening Ceremony (2011) with Davide Livermore
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World Swimming Championships Closing Ceremony (2009)
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Universiade Opening Ceremony (2007)
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New Year's Eve Turin (2012)
As a director and content creator, Cucco has brought visually immersive experiences to stadium tours for Italian artists Tiziano Ferro, Cesare Cremonini, and Marco Mengoni, and developed video design for opera productions globally, including Aida at the Sydney Opera House and Don Pasquale at La Scala.
In 2023, he co-directed The Opera! on Europe’s most advanced virtual set, the Prodea Led Studios, with Davide Livermore, marking his debut in film.
December 2, 2024 | 10:30-11:40
Discover how creativity fuels new possibilities in the arts! Paolo Gep Cucco will dive into fresh, innovative models shaping the future of arts and culture, exploring how industry leaders can adapt to evolving audience expectations through pioneering design, technology, and storytelling.
Moderator
Johannes MUELLER
FACP Treasurer
Director, msm-productions (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Johannes Mueller, classical recording producer since 30+ years, is founder of msm-productions (Singapore) Pte Ltd, an international team, passionate to create meaningful music releases on highest quality level. Our company offers classical & acoustic audio and video music recording expertise, with services ranging from artistic recording supervision & producing, livestreaming and postproduction to project management & creative direction for audio & video recordings Asia wide. Our consultation starts off with a review of the release purpose and repertoire. From there, we will discuss the aesthetic expectations of the recording and the formats in which the recording will be released. From Full HD to 4k, from stereo to immersive sound.
Additional Speaker to Respond
Margaret YANG
FACP Governor
CEO of Hong Kong Sinfonietta
Margaret Yang is an Arts Administrator who has worked in Hong Kong and London. She is now CEO of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, a position she took up 24 years ago, with a mandate to start a 2 nd professional symphony orchestra in Hong Kong. Today, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta is recognised as one of the major performing arts groups in Hong Kong (www.hksl.org) and has toured to 50 cities worldwide.
A music graduate of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ms Yang has a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Management from the City University of London and a Law degree from the University of Cambridge. In Hong Kong, she has worked for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (marketing), Hong Kong Arts Festival (programming) and in London, she was with the International Artist Agency HarrisonParrott. As a lawyer, Ms Yang was a solicitor specialising in Intellectual Property for the law firm Lovells before she headed back into the arts. In 2009, Ms Yang was chosen as the first Hong Kong fellow to join the Clore Leadership Programme in the UK, one of the most competitive fellowships for international arts leaders.
Ms Yang is often invited as guest lecturer to speak about her arts administration experiences. She has been on the adjunct faculty for the MA in Music programme at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, lecturing on “Arts Management and Promotion”. Ms Yang is also currently on the Board of Contemporary Musiking Hong Kong (CMHK), a incubator for cross-disciplinary practices in music, sound, and technology (https://www.cmhk.org/about-cmhk/) and a board member of Enable Foundation Ltd., an organisation which champions social innovation. She was also Secretary to the Federation for Asian Cultural Promotion (FACP) for 6 years.
Forum 1
Advanced ArtsTech Impacts on the Future Creations of the Performing Arts
December 2, 2024 | 13:15-14:45
The Fusion of Tradition and Innovation Creates the Path to the Future
Panelist
Yoshitaka HIROOKA
Managing Director of Tokyo Symphony Orchestra
Yoshitaka Hirooka’s lifelong dedication to music began at age 3 in Paris, leading him to graduate with highest honors from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, where he was awarded the prestigious Ataka Prize. He furthered his studies at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, USA.
Upon graduation, Hirooka joined the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra as assistant concertmaster. He has performed extensively with orchestras across Japan, including the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, and Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra. His educational contributions span nearly two decades, from teaching at Tokai University to mentoring student and amateur orchestras throughout Japan.
Since 2022, Hirooka has served as Managing Director of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, bringing a wealth of expertise and vision to the future of performing arts.
Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the transformative potential of ArtsTech in the performing arts with a true industry leader!
Discover the future of performances blending real and virtual worlds! Yoshitaka Hirooka will share his journey in creating performances with a virtual artist, revealing insights into how this groundbreaking project began, the creative process, the challenges encountered, and the future of ArtsTech in performance.
Panelist
Hsiao-Mei HO
Artistic Director of MeimageDance
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The 19th National Arts Award winner
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Dean of the School of Dance at Taipei National University of the Arts
Founding MeimageDance in 2010, Ho’s diverse works feature vivid imagery of female identity. New Paradise of Silent Island assembles the prosperous, wild, and boisterous essence of contemporary Taiwan, candidly showcasing close-up moments of every pulsating body in life. She continues to reach into the depths and foundation of existence through varied approaches of both intensity and calmness. In recent years, Ho has also explored cutting-edge technologies with VR works like Sister Lin Tou: The Lost Limbo and Barbie’s Monologue, opening new chapters of synthesizing the virtual and the real. Beginning in 2023, Silent Island March has been leading the performance and audience out of the theater interior – inviting local entertainment groups of folk festivals to joint perform around temple grounds, the project pioneers a new dance tradition. Concurrently, at Taipei Zhongshan Hall, Ho launched the Dance Now Asia Festival, connecting with curators from Japan, Korea, and Malaysia. Envisioning the future of Asian dance culture together, she aims to establish a cultural exchange platform of contemporary vitality.
Dance, as a universal language, can transcend cultural and geographical boundaries. How dance crosses different mediums, from traditional theater to virtual reality. The diversity of dance is our direction for the future.
Bridging Worlds Through Dance:
From Theater to VR and Beyond
Panelist
Septime WEBRE
Artistic Director, Hong Kong Ballet (HKB)
Septime Webre is an internationally recognised ballet director, choreographer, educator and advocate. He joined Hong Kong Ballet (HKB) as its Artistic Director in July 2017 after 17 years as Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet (US) from 1999-2016, and six years as Artistic Director for the American Repertory Ballet in Princeton (US) from 1993-1999.
Much sought-after as a choreographer, Webre’s works appear in the repertoires of ballet companies globally. He has also worked frequently in theatre as well as opera. His work has received numerous honors, grants and awards, and he has served on the board of Dance/USA, Artistic Director of Halcyon and on the juries of a number of international ballet competitions, including those in Varna, Bulgaria, Istanbul, Cape Town, New York and Seoul. Webre’s new works for HKB, Romeo + Juliet, set in 1960s Hong Kong, and The Nutcracker, set in early 20th century Hong Kong, world premiered in June and December 2021, respectively.
Panelist
Jeffrey SHAW
Chair Professor, Academy of Visual Arts, School of Creative Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University
Director, HKBU Visualization Research Centre
Jeffrey Shaw has been a leading figure in new media art since the 1960s, and in a prolific internationally renowned career he has pioneered the creative use of digital media technologies in the fields of expanded cinema, participatory art, virtual, augmented, and mixed reality, immersive visualization environments, navigable cinematic systems and interactive narrative.
Shaw was co-founder of the Eventstructure Research Group Amsterdam (1969-1979), founding director of the ZKM Institute for Visual Media Karlsruhe, Germany (1991-2002), founding director of the iCinema Research Center at UNSW Australia (2003-2008) and Dean of the School of Creative Media at City University of Hong Kong (2009- 2015).
Shaw has also been active in conceiving, curating, and producing major international exhibitions and publications, and his numerous awards and recognitions include the Ars Electronica Golden Nica for Visionary Pioneer of Media Art, Linz, Austria, 2015, and the ACM SIGGRAPH Distinguished Artist Award for Lifetime Achievement in Digital Art, 2020.
This presentation will describe a number of projects Prof. Shaw has realized over the last 30 years where innovative new media approaches to theatre, dance, music have enabled transformative experiences both in terms of visualization and viewer interaction. These include works made together with Willam Forsyth, Saburo Teshigawara, Jean Michel Bruyere and the Wooster Group.
Future Theatre — modalities of new media for performance
Moderator
Martin Emile Z. LOPEZ
FACP Manila Governor
Senior Director of the Far Eastern University Center for the Arts
After graduation from Connecticut College, Martin started his own arts management company called SinagTala, translated as Shining Stars, to promote Filipinos in classical, choral and ethnic music.
As he built his name in the Manila concert circuit, he joined the Board of Trustees of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). While there, he became a member and then a governor and two term Secretary General of the Federation for Asian Cultural Promotion (FACP). When his term ended at the CCP, he joined Far Eastern University (FEU) to run its President’s Committee on Culture, now the FEU Center for the Arts.
Martin sits on the board of the Association for Cultural Offices in Philippine Educational Institutions, the Friends for Cultural Concerns of the Philippines, and the Vallehermoso Helping Hands Foundation.
When time permits, Martin gives walking tours of Manila: #walkmanilawithmartin
Keynote Speech 2
Decoding the Performing Arts Market — How Big Data Changes Marketing Strategy
Speaker
Steven CHOI
Head of Tencent Cloud
Steven Choi is a veteran in the IT industry with over 28 years of experience in Enterprise Sales, focusing on Infrastructure Cloud Solutions, Managed Services and Digital Transformation.
Prior to joining Tencent, as the GM of Tencent Cloud HK & Macau, he was an IBM Executive, leading different business units for over 23 years in HK and PRC Mainland, and also worked for AWS in HK.
Steven is a MBA graduate from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Hong Kong (HKUST).
December 3, 2024 | 10:00-11:00
Tencent is most well known for its Wechat and QQ, messaging services and Games, we are also a Cloud and Digital Content company. We developed Technology, like GenAI, Digital Human, VR, AR...etc in supporting our own business, as well as Enterprise customer in content or art creation.
Bridging the Art and Technology
Moderator
Paul TAM
FACP Vice Chair
Executive Director-Performing Arts of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority
Mr Paul Tam joined WKCDA in March 2020. Mr Tam leads the Performing Arts Division to deliver world-class programmes and performing arts venues and facilities in the WKCD. He is responsible for steering the strategic planning and sustainable development of these venues, and overseeing their business direction, artistic development, venue operations, technical and production, facilities planning and delivery.
Mr Tam is a seasoned arts executive with over 20 years of experience in performing arts management. Before joining WKCDA, Mr Tam served as Executive Director of Hong Kong Ballet, where he oversaw its strategic development, institutional advancement, brand-building, education and community outreach, and international touring. Currently, Mr Tam is Director of the International Society for the Performing Arts, Board Member and former Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Administrators Association Governor of the Federation of Asian Cultural Promotion and Advisor for Our Hong Kong Foundation.
Additional Speaker to Respond
Joyce CHIOU
FACP Chairperson
General and Artistic Director, National Taichung Theater
General & Artistic Director of the National Taichung Theater since June, 2018.
Joyce Chiou has Master degrees in both music and drama from the University of Illinois and Northern Illinois University in the U.S. She was the Executive Director of Taiwan Philharmonic (a.k.a. the National Symphony Orchestra) from June 2006 to June 2018.
As a playwright, Chiou writes libretto for Opera and musicals, such as Heart Sutra (in English, 2012), and The Black Bearded Bible Man (in English & Taiwanese, 2010). Her writings include books A Beautiful Mistake – Biography of Lee, Tai-Shan, Praised for Passion, Lived Without Regrets – Biography of Lee, Yung- Kang, From West End to Broadway, Show Time! – 9 Styles of Musicals and Behind the Mask — Phantom of the Opera.
Forum 2
Technology and Architecture in the Performing Arts Venues
December 3, 2024 | 11:00-12:20
The East Kowloon Cultural Centre (EKCC) is on a mission to converge artistry with innovation, creating a dynamic fusion of creativity and technology. EKCC recognizes the profound impact of technology on contemporary performances. By integrating cutting-edge technological elements and infrastructure, EKCC is committed to offering new artistic experiences and unlocking fresh realms of creative exploration. Stepping into EKCC means entering a space where digital marvels, interactive adventures, and vibrant atmospheres meld to captivate and inspire. By daring to push boundaries and reshape how audiences engage with art, EKCC establishes itself as a hub for the intersection of arts and technology, shaping the future of performing arts experiences.
Panelist
Carrie LO
Head of the East Kowloon Cultural Centre (EKCC)
Carrie Lo, Head of the East Kowloon Cultural Centre (EKCC), oversees venue operations and programming with a strategic focus on Arts Technology to position EKCC as a key hub for arts and technology. With extensive experience in the performing arts sector under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Carrie excels in venue management and event coordination. She has managed operations at prominent cultural venues like the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Hong Kong Heritage Museum. Carrie's expertise encompasses curating top-tier music events and thematic programme series featuring acclaimed orchestras and artists. Noteworthy achievements include organizing remarkable events such as the first International Tattoo in Hong Kong and outdoor live relays of world-class orchestras. With a diverse skill set covering venue logistics, event planning, and artistic direction, Carrie is dedicated to integrating operational efficiency with creative vision to craft extraordinary cultural experiences.
Panelist
Frank YEUNG
Head of Theatre Planning
West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA)
Master of Social Sciences (Media, Culture and Creative Cities), the University of Hong Kong and Advanced Diploma, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
Frank was former Head of Production of the HKAPA for more than fourteen years. He was the first local-nurtured Production Manager and Technical Director taking this position. After that Frank joins West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) currently he is Head of Theatre Planning (Performing Arts).
Frank is one of experienced theatre professional who is proficient in a variety of performance arts disciplines – Cantonese opera, drama, music, ballet, contemporary dance, opera, musical, and mega outdoor event. He is also a well-established Production Director and works with various renowned local and overseas artists. He represents his organisations as well as local performing groups to lead many production tours abroad: Shanghai, Beijing, Taipei, Manila, Tokyo, Paris, London, Vienna, Prague, Brussels, Lisbon, Toronto, Sydney and Perth.
Frank is the first staff member to be involved in designing performing arts (PA) venues for one of the world’s largest cultural projects, West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD), blending performing art, education and public space. He contributes whole-heartly with his profound theatre knowledge and practical experience to Theatre Design teams, including Architects and Theatre Consultants, as well as performing arts stakeholder, to design and develop user-friendly theatre venues for WKCD as well as for Hong Kong Theatre scene. He also pioneers to setup Theatre Safety Rules and Theatre Safety Management System for WKCD PA venues and up to now in operation.
The Development and Policy of Performing Arts Venues Focusing on Regional Areas in Korea
Panelist
Cho Jung Yun
Executive Director, Cultural Affairs Busan Cultural Foundation
Cho Jung Yun graduated from Korea University and pursued an MA in Arts Management at City University in the UK, followed by a PhD in Performing Arts from Sungkyunkwan University in Korea. He has made meaningful contributions to Korea’s public arts sector, serving as director of the performing arts department at Mapo Arts Center and as an arts advisor in Goyang City.
In 2009, as a research fellow for The Japan Foundation, he conducted research on regional arts and cultural facilities in Japan. He later took on leadership roles at the Busan Cultural Foundation, where he led the cultural heritage team responsible for the Joseon Tongshinsa, a UNESCO Memory of the World, achieving a co-nomination with Japan in 2017.
Cho has also served as the Busan Mayor’s Cultural Policy Advisor, directed the Policy Research Center at Busan Cultural Foundation, and was the head of the Regional Cultural Policy Research Center at the Korea Association of Regional Cultural Foundations. Currently, he is the executive director of cultural affairs at BSCF, overseeing the Cultural Sharing, Arts Education, and Cultural Heritage teams.
This discussion focuses on Korea's trend of developing specialized, advanced performing arts venues in regional areas. Optimal functionality requires harmonious integration of infrastructure, personnel, and programming. It emphasizes policies supporting resident companies for international exchanges and broader reach. It also explores collaborations among regional arts councils, foundations, and venues to strengthen local arts ecosystems. Lastly, it addresses challenges in venue construction and proposes establishing Asian performing arts venue connections for enhanced creativity and distribution.
Moderator
Wan-Jung WEI
Executive Director of OISTAT
Dance critic
WEI is the youngest executive director to hold the position at OISTAT since its establishment in 1968, and also the first with diplomatic training. While in her teenage years, she practiced hip -hop dancing and later transitioned to contemporary dance. With a belief in the commonality between diplomacy and performing arts of "creating dialogues in daily life," WEI explores the relationship between contemporary dance and society by writing dance critiques, with a particular focus on feminism and gender issues. She earned her MA degree in Arts Politics from Tisch School of the Arts, New York University. She loves dogs.
