Having been studying Cultural Management for years, I realized that it is an insightful exploration of the operation of cultural events and products. It is to learn how different stakeholders in the cultural industries function, formulate policies, and organize cultural activities.
I got an excellent experience in coordinating a tour of historical sites in the university campus. In the process, we encountered various hindrance, which required us to put effort in several times of attempts, evaluation and improvement. Not only could these experience enabled us to put theories into practice, it also enhanced our ability in curating projects with meticulousness. Cultural industries work as an ecosystem that various elements including artists, organizations and audience tightly influence with each other. Through the programme, I gained a deeper insight into how we could engage in the industry with a mature mindset. It has also equipped me with multiple skills to build a bridge between participants and cultures.

CUMT has provided me many valuable opportunities and exposure. Our professors always invite professionals from leading arts and cultural organisations to share their industry knowledge as well as in-field experience and organised field visits to various cultural events. What thrilled me most was the visit in Sai Kung where we could study the “Sun Kung Hei”, the Cantonese opera played for the spirits during the Hungry Ghost Festival! We got the chance to visit their backstage and had a better understanding on the preparation of the performance. Also, we are urged to apply theories but also our original ideas in assignments and create our own art projects. For instance, my team has recently curated an arts festival about life and death education. In the future, I would like to use the gained knowledge to contribute back to the society through arts as arts and culture are essentials to illuminate our inner lives.

The programme equipped us with a wide spectrum of knowledge, including cultural theory, arts appreciation, business management etc. It enables us to walk into the local communities where we could use arts to raise public concern on cultural diversity and social harmony. My team used to organise arts activities to promote barrier-free access for the visually impaired in Hong Kong. Also, most of our teachers are active practitioners in the cultural industry. Their expertise and in-field knowledge greatly facilitates on our career planning. The experience in CUMT greatly widens my horizons. I promise that I could keep up my curiosity and appreciation for cultural diversity and serves as a mediator between the public and cultural productions.

Cultural Management is like a magician who turns intangible ideas into concrete plans.  Concerning the development of cultural and art administration in the future, our mission is to present culture effectively.  We are the mediators connecting arts and culture with public audience, so in-depth understanding on how art actually works will help a lot on managing and planning it. This programme provides me the knowledge and opportunities on developing my career path towards the arts and cultural field.

Compulsory courses offered by the programme link up theories with our daily life. The funny but informative way of teaching helps us master the knowledge. This programme also provides students with great freedom on course choices as many courses are offered by various departments in the Faculty of Arts, from which I am able to acquire different perspectives and understanding towards Hong Kong’s arts and culture.

I am so grateful to have my precious four years’ university life being spent in Cultural Management Programme which allows me to explore different knowledge about arts and culture. I used to believe that I would only be interested in Visual Art. However, at the end, I learnt more than I expected. I explored widely about art in different region and forms, deeply on how to influence the society through art.  Most importantly, I have learnt to embraces all possibilities that art and culture could bring us. For me, what I have learnt in these years is to open up myself to various possibilities and unknowns, and believing in what you are doing are the most important & meaningful things.

Cultural Management Programme is not only about how to manage, it also expanded my vision on understanding and exploring cultures. We have much freedom to take different courses, and express our thoughts in class. Only through real and thorough experiences could we fully understand the meanings and values of cultures, so as to present them with management strategies. I wish this programme could keep nurturing student the spirit as a cultural defender with the ability to think critically , and the respectfulness towards other cultures, so that graduates could contribute to both local and international cultural developments in this era.