URA endeavours to enrich young people with urban renewal knowledge through art and cultural activities

The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) has organised various school activities to inspire youngsters to explore urban renewal issues from different perspectives.  A drama competition centred on the theme of rehabilitation was organised this year for secondary school students, coupled with a drawing competition that encouraged primary school students to utilise their drawing skills to depict the unique moments and scenes they found in old districts.

The final of "Maintaining Buildings for Quality Living" Drama Competition and the prize presentation of the Drawing Competition for primary school students were held at the Youth Square in Chai Wai on 28 March.  On the same occasion, winners of the Living Heritage Photo Contest, which was part of the "Living Heritage Exploration" programme organized for secondary school students, were acknowledged.  

"Apart from territory-wide activities and competitions for schools and the community, our public education and promotion programmes encompass education kits for schools, experiential visits with docent service at URA's project sites as well as guided tours of the Urban Renewal Exploration Centre.  All of these initiatives aim to enhance public awareness of the urban decay problem and facilitate their understanding of urban renewal," said Director (Corporate Communications) of the URA, Mr Lawrence Yau.

Starting from this Friday (5 April), a three-week long exhibition featuring the creative work of the winning schools and students will be put on display for public viewing at the Oasis Gallery of the former Central Market building.  Information and photos of the activities are available at the UREC website (www.urec.org.hk) and Facebook Page(www.facebook.com/UrbanRenewalExplorationCentre).

Highlights of the above activities are given below:

"Maintaining Buildings for Quality Living" Drama Competition for Secondary Schools

The drama competition was organised to encourage secondary school students to explore the significance of building maintenance and its correlation with social integration through script writing and drama performance. The event was supported by the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre which hosted a training workshop to share with the five shortlisted teams tips of acting and stage production prior to the final competition. Through stage performance, the shortlisted teams competed for the champion, first runner-up, second runner-up and other awards.

Drawing Competition for Primary Schools

The Drawing Competition for Primary Schools has received overwhelming response with more than 200 entries submitted by the junior and senior groups.  Supported by the Hong Kong Education City and Hong Kong Society for Education in Art, the competition encouraged participants to utilise their drawing skills to depict the moments and scenes they found in old districts. Teachers were also encouraged to bring their students to old districts to observe the neighbourhood at close distance. (Please click HERE for list of winners)

Living Heritage Exploration (Docent activity in Central & Western District) and Living Heritage Photo Contest

The URA joined forces with the University of Hong Kong to arrange the first Living Heritage Exploration in November 2012 and March 2013, inviting senior secondary students to tour around and revisit the development of the Central and Sheung Wan districts.  A photo contest was organised in conjunction with the tour to mark the debut event and encourage students to express what they saw through their camera lenses. (Please click HERE for list of winners)

Winners List for  "Maintaining Buildings for Quality Living" Drama Competition for Secondary Schools

(ENDS)