Introduction of Performing Arts Engagement with Social Context — How Performing Arts programmes engage community members in social organisations

Are community centres solely focused on dance classes? How can contemporary theatre and dance artists effectively utilise the qualities of their art to integrate into social service organizations and exert cross-sector influence? 

This course is designed for artists, educators, and art practitioners who wish to engage with the social welfare sector through the medium of performing arts. It aims to familiarise colleagues from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and social institutions with the characteristics of performing arts and its language, enabling beneficiaries to participate as active contributors in artistic expressions and community engagement. 

The course shall look at the qualities of performing arts and outline its impact, providing practical strategies for planning projects and performances that connect diverse groups. The two tutors bring years of experience in theatre and arts administration, actively promoting cross-sector collaboration and leveraging resources for social innovation. They have been involved in various performing arts projects, including the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre’s “One Fine Day,” multiple productions at Oxfam’s Interactive Theatre Education Centre, Rolling Books’ clown-themed educational theatre, “Edible Performance” at Tai Kwun, the “YES! KIDS CAN” school initiative at PMQ Seed, and Collab Bazaar’s “Noon Disco”.  

Participants will gain an understanding of the value of performing arts in community engagement, collectively exploring the social impact measurement within this context. The course will foster the development of more performing arts projects in the community, helping participants identify resources and plan their personal career trajectories in this emerging interdisciplinary field. In one of the sessions, participants will experience a demonstration workshop of “Noon Disco” for first-hand experience sharing and debriefing. 

Course Content  

Lesson 1: Introduction to Performing Arts and Social Engagement (Lai Sim Fong and James Chong) 

– Defining performing arts? 

– From drama/music classes at community centres 

– Expectations and discrepancies, when performing arts appear in social sector 

– Case Study: “Breaking Barriers” Empowering Thai Youths in Kowloon City through Drama Educations 

Lesson 2: Design Thinking and Understanding the Community (Lai Sim Fong) 

– Design Thinking, with performing arts elements 

– Community performances, from Tuen Mun Park, “The Way We Dance”, “18dART” to the theme song MV of “The Way We Talk” 

– SWOT analysis of performing arts in social context 

– Case Study: Community Cultural Ambassador Scheme “Taking Root” 

Lesson 3: The Body in Performing Arts and the Body in the Community (Lai Sim Fong) 

– Target beneficiaries of performing arts, from children, youth, middle-aged, to senior citizens 

– The physicality of performance beyond skills: exploring bodily expression and significance in the community 

– Opportunities for multicultural performances and engagement 

– Case Study: Documentary Theatre “Testimony” 

Lesson 4: Is Storytelling with Picture Books Considered as Performing Arts? (James Chong) 

– Is storytelling merely for parent-child? 

– Types of clown performances and the role of clown educators 

– Connecting social issues through clown storytelling and clown theatre 

– Drama therapy, forum theatre, playback theatre, and global citizenship education programmes 

Lesson 5: Immersive demonstration “Noon Disco” (Lai Sim Fong) 

– Immersive demonstration of “Noon Disco”  

– Debriefing and sharing of experiences after “Noon Disco” 

– Case Study: How “Noon Disco” connects the performing arts with the community and the business sector 

Lesson 6: Social Impact Measurement of Performing Arts (Lai Sim Fong and James Chong) 

– Discussion of Social Impact Measurement approach for performing arts  

– Trends in performing arts and social engagement 

– Course Reflection: Career planning and sector development 

*The course content may be adjusted based on the teaching pace and practical circumstances.  

Tutor
Lai Sim Fong

Graduated with the Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Practice at University of Exeter (UK). She works as a community artist and dramaturg in theatre and contemporary dance. Recently works include Hong Kong Repertory Theatre Red and Attempts on her life, WKCD/ Rimini Protokoll 100% Hong Kong, Tai Kwun/ Rimini Protokoll Remote Hong Kong, Rooftop Productions Testimony and On and On Theatre Tit Hong Lane. Curatorial projects include No Discipline Limited Performance Matters and Tables of Content. She believes that arts have the ability to empower individuals as well as the communities, works that she initiated include Goethe Institute Human Graffiti, KACES Golden Autumn and Collab Bazaar Noon Disco. Her curated project Edible Performance of Tai Kwun won the 2020 Good Design Award.

James Chong

Graduate of the first Profession Certificate in Arts Management course at the Hong Kong Art School in 2002, James is a seasoned arts administrator and social entrepreneur specialising in cross-sector collaboration. From writing theatre reviews and managing bookstores and restaurants to being a safety supervisor in the construction industry and organising public education activities at an international NGO, James went on to establish a social enterprise that promotes reading and storytelling with clown actors. He secured multiple sources of funding and participated in numerous social innovation projects that incorporated art and culture.

He has also published a multi-sensory audio description picture book “The Gift Beyond”, which won the Best Publication Award in the “Children and Youth Category” of the Hong Kong Publishing Biennial Award 2023. After graduating with a Master degree in Anthropology from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2020, James taught “Social Work and Social Entrepreneurship” class at Hong Kong College of Technology and is currently teaching Digital Creativity and Cultural Management courses in Master of Cultural Studies at Lingnan University.