Focusing on the outreach and education programmes of the major performing arts groups in Hong Kong which are directly funded by the HKSAR government, the research will examine the emergent forms of outreach and education programmes as they relate to audience development. While outreach and education has been an indispensable sector of the major performing arts groups, there is very little known about the implementation and impacts of these programmes. This study aims to: (i) understand how the cultural leaders perceive the role of outreach and education in performing arts institutions; (ii) investigate how the outreach and education sector contributes to audience building in performing arts; and (iii) reveal the conditions that support and challenge the development of outreach and education in the major performing arts institutions in Hong Kong.

This study was largely grounded in fieldwork centred around the cultural leaders and practitioners of the major performing arts groups. Interviews with six cultural leaders who are at the top management level, and extensive observations (e.g. workshops and performances) were conducted during the fieldwork. Also, archival research on outreach was conducted and this has brought important insights into the changing ecology of cultural development in Hong Kong.

This project will contribute to understandings of the role and impacts of outreach and education programmes of the major performing arts groups in Hong Kong, particularly in relation to audience development. The findings may also have significant implications for the cultural development and policy-making in performing arts in Hong Kong and beyond.

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