HONG KONG ART SCHOOL (HKAS)
INTRODUCTION OF HKAS
In 1998, the Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) collaborated with RMIT University to launch its first bachelor's degree in fine art. Building upon the partnership, the Hong Kong Art School (HKAS), a division of the Hong Kong Arts Centre, was founded in 2000. Closely associated with HKAC’s environment and creative enterprises, HKAS offers a unique setting for students to draw on a vast spectrum of artistic practices.
HKAS is an accredited institute staffed by a group of dedicated artists and art educators who are active and distinguished practitioners in the field. The HKAS’s award-bearing curriculum focuses mainly on various disciplines of Fine Art, including Ceramics, Painting, Photography and Sculpture. Its scope covers programmes with academic levels ranging from Higher Diploma to Bachelor's Degree. The HKAS's short courses and outreach projects, which run parallel to the award-bearing curriculum, span a wide variety of art disciplines and genuinely bridge art and the community.
Hong Kong Arts Centre – Art for Passion, Art for Life, Art for All
Introduction of HKAC
Since 1977, the Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) has been a platform for nurturing and supporting artists, and infusing art into everyday life. Its unique arts and educational programmes aim to make the arts accessible for all. The HKAC believes in the transformational power of art for people from all walks of life. Established for more than four decades, the HKAC endeavours to bring arts to the people of Hong Kong by presenting programmes in diverse art disciplines, such as visual arts, performing arts, moving images, media arts, comics, animation, arts education, lecture forum, public art, art festival and community art. With the vision of inspiring creativity in the local and international art community, HKAC focuses on five key areas of art development, including Global Arts Explorations, Community Engagement, Voices of Diversity, Artistic Empowerment, and Art for Life.
In 1998, the HKAC collaborated with RMIT University to launch its first bachelor's degree in fine art. Building upon the partnership, HKAC founded its educational arm, Hong Kong Art School (HKAS), in 2000. Until today, HKAS has provided award-bearing programmes to nurture art talent and has organised short enrichment courses for the general public.
The HKAC aspires to engage everyone in the community to become an active participant in the arts - as an enthusiast, an artist or a patron. Let’s continue to embrace ‘Art for Passion, Art for Life, Art for All’, and share the inspiration.
PHILOSOPHY
To enhance the overall cultural ecology of the society; by projecting a distinctive aura of academic and artistic integrity which is stemming from a genuine passion for art and a belief in the cultivation of humanistic values, aesthetic experience and individuality.
To provide a gateway for facilitating art education which advocates a quest for root; and grounded in life, it endeavors to manifest cross-fertilization which ultimately leads to a personal growth on the whole.
- Personal Growth : signifies the maturation of conceptual development, professional skills and self-reflection
- Cross-fertilization : spreads among artistic, academic and professional principles
- Grounded in Life : marks the significance of community and connection
- Quest for Root : dedicates to history and contextual awareness
MILESTONES
2020 – | HKAS was celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2020. The School continued to refine its academic curriculum in the Fine Art area and enrich its Short courses as well as its outreach projects that run parallel to the core curriculum, further bridging art and the community. |
2018 – | The partnership with RMIT University reached 20 years. Exhibitions and activities commemorating the 20th Anniversary were conducted with pride and joy. |
2013 – | The School acquired another new School site at Youth Square, Chai Wan. The School at the same time remodeled the Shau Kei Wan campus to a campus specializing in object-based 3-D Art-making. This campus is also the first of its kind in Hong Kong. |
2009 – | HKAS acquired a new school site in Shau Kei Wan (the Shau Kei Wan campus) via the Government’s Land Grant/ Vacant School Premises Scheme. The successful acquisition signified the recognition of HKAS’ contribution to the local art education scene over the years. |
2006 – | TAS was renamed as Hong Kong Art School (HKAS). |
2003 – | TAS successfully went through the academic accreditation conducted by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) (formerly the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation) and formally became a sub-degree award granting institution recognized by the Hong Kong Government. |
2000 – | Birth of Hong Kong Art School (HKAS), the Education Department of Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) was formally upgraded to The Art School (TAS) in January 2000 to signify HKAC’s firm commitment to art education. |
1998 – | Hong Kong’s first ever bachelor degree programme in Fine Art with a study mode that could cater the needs of also the working adults was launched by the Education Department of HKAC in collaboration with the RMIT University of Australia. |
1984 – | Establishment of the Education Department within the HKAC, which offered pioneering courses on arts and culture. |
1977 – | Founding of Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC), the first independent and non-profit-making arts organization in Hong Kong, under the Hong Kong Arts Centre Ordinance (Chapter 304). |