Sneak peek: what to look forward to from Cathay and West Kowloon's new partnership

If you marvelled at the vibrant garments and beautiful tapestries of M+’s Special Exhibition "Madame Song: Pioneering Art and Fashion in China", we’ll let you in on a little secret: we helped bring the show to life.

And over the next three years, we’re set to working closely with West Kowloon to bring even more world-class cultural experiences to Hong Kong as the proud travel partner of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA).

Across institutions such as M+, Asia’s first global museum of contemporary visual culture, the Hong Kong Palace Museum, Xiqu Centre and more, we will be playing a significant role in boosting Hong Kong’s cultural offerings. From flying in Broadway performers and flying out talented Hong Kong performers overseas, to carefully transporting masterpieces, we’re thrilled to help connect Hong Kong to culture both within and beyond its borders, reinforcing the district’s position as a vibrant cultural hub and an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

Our partnership with the WKCDA formally began in July 2023, with the launch of M+ Special Exhibition Madame Song: Pioneering Art and Fashion in China. This coming year, it’s our pleasure to continue working closely with the district in promoting arts and cultural exchange, boosting our joint effort to elevate Hong Kong’s international cultural profile.

Want a sneak peek? Here’s a few exciting cultural events to add to your calendar in 2024.

Connecting Cultures, Bridging Times

Date: 24-26 March

Hong Kong is celebrating the importance of creativity in March, welcoming art connoisseurs and gallerists from all over the world to the city for art month. For the first time ever, hundreds of the art world’s greatest minds will meet at the Cathay-supported Hong Kong International Cultural Summit on 24 and 26 March. Expect sessions filled with fascinating creative insights from global experts, touching on everything from opportunities and challenges of digitalisation to future development of cultural districts and museums.

WestK Fun Fest

Date: 16 March-7 April

This family-friendly performing arts festival proves that art isn’t just for grown-ups, with three weeks of events and activities to inspire people of all ages. Held from 16 March to 7 April, the inaugural WestK FunFest will bring together over 150 diverse art programmes across West Kowloon. From participatory performances, interactive and multi-media experiences, and dance parties to workshops and art-installations, each activity aims to engage families and connect communities. 

Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London

Date: until 11 April

If you haven’t yet had a chance to visit this mammoth exhibition , there’s still time to see the Old Masters up close. More than 50 celebrated works by the likes of Botticelli, Rembrandt, Monet and Van Gogh have been flown in from the vaults of the National Gallery, London for a special visit in Hong Kong. Both a visual feast and a crucial art history lesson, the works will adorn the walls of the Hong Kong Palace Museum alongside its prolific collection of Chinese cultural relics. 

ISH Dance Collective: Elements of Freestyle

Date: 28-30 June

Breakdancing, skateboarding, in-line skating, freestyle basketball, BMX and freerunning …oh my; it's all coming to Freespace this June in a daringly choreographed spectacle. Led by the Amsterdam-based ISH Dance Collective, this electric performance  will put a spotlight on an innovative, well-blended, exquisitely choreographed form of urban dance. Performers will pinball around specially-designed landscapes to the sounds of live electronic and orchestral strings, putting on stage the ecstasy and freedom of the street – where many of the forms celebrated have thrived.

I.M. Pei: Life is Architecture

Date: opens 29 June

Architecture buffs will want to quickly reserve a spot to this stunning retrospective at M+, in which Ieoh Ming Pei’s stunning seven-decade career will be celebrated. Best known for his work on The Louvre, Hong Kong’s iconic Bank of China Tower and the National Gallery of Art East Building in Washington DC, this curated exhibition lifts a lid on Pei’s process and reveals what goes into creating an urban landmark. Divided into six themes through sketches, models, photographs and archival documentation – many of which will be on view for the first time – one thing is distinctly clear: architecture is inseparable from our daily lives. 

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Noir & Blanc: A Story of Photography

Date: opens 16 March

At this M+ exhibition, the world is truly black and white – at least through the eyeslens of these photographers. This special exhibition , co-presented with the French May Arts Festival and in collaboration with the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF), will showcase a rare collection of photographs alongside pieces from the M+ Collections. Over 250 photos by more than 170 renowned photographers explore the creativity of the medium in BnF’s collection, with many making their Asian debut for the very first time.