West Kowloon Area Guide | Hong Kong Cheapo

With so many cultures and nationalities jostling about this place, it’s no wonder that Hong Kong is overflowing with creativity. Whilst you can find glimmers of art in all forms throughout the year, there are numerous notable art based events that will really tickle your cultural taste buds. We’ve rounded up our favourites that we think are worth checking out. Hong Kong Arts Festival What is it? The crowning jewel of the HK arts scene has got to be the Hong Kong Arts Festival. Heading into its 53rd year, the festival now attracts a major international and local lineup of leading artists, orchestras, ballet troupes, musicians, dancers and more. So whatever your artistic vibe, this multidisciplinary smörgåsbord truly has something for everyone. Where is it? Performances take place at various venues, including the Hong Kong Cultural Center in Tsim Sha Tsui, and the Hong Kong City Hall Theatre in Central. Tickets Tickets are available on the HKAF website or at various Urbtix outlets across HK. Art Basel Hong Kong What is it? A crowd favourite, Art Basel is one of the biggest art events across the region and brings together an impressive list of well established artists as well as emerging talent. This year, 177 exhibitors from across 32 countries will showcase their art to the general public over 3 days with 2023 marking the return of ‘Encounters’, the sector dedicated to large scale works. Where is it? Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai Tickets Tickets are only available for purchase on the Art Basel website. Fine Art Asia What is it? Recognised by the international art world as Asia’s leading international fine art fair, this sophisticated event showcases a treasured collection spanning 5000 years of cultural art history from ancient Buddhist paintings to contemporary art pieces. Coinciding with some of the major art auctions of the year here, Fine Art Asia typically attracts renowned dealers, curators and collectors from all over the world but is open to anyone and everyone who loves fine art. Where is it? Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai Tickets Tickets available for purchase on site. Art Central What is it? Running during HK Art Week (purportedly the biggest art week in the Asia Pacific region), Art Central is one of the most recognised platforms for pushing boundaries in contemporary and experimental art. With a focus on Asian art, over 100 international galleries will be showcased with an extensive variety of sculptures, paintings, mixed media work and installations as well as presentations and performances. Got some budding artists in the family? Bring them along! Art central offers something for the whole family with special kids areas designed to inspire. Where is it? Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai Tickets Tickets are now on sale on HK Ticketing with discounted advanced ticket prices available. Weekday tickets First release discounted tickets cost for adults; ( for full price. Concession tickets cost ; full price . Children from 5 - 15 years old cost and have no discount). Weekend tickets First release discounted tickets cost for adults; ( for full price. Concession tickets cost ; full price . Children from 5 - 15 years old cost and have no discount). Affordable Art Fair What is it? First opening its doors 10 years ago, the HK Affordable Art Fair (AAF) is making art accessible to everyone again this year with more than 100 international and local galleries offering a huge variety of art for a first time buyer or seasoned art collector. A slightly smaller affair than Art Central or Art Basel, the AAF is still a popular event and draws top curators as well as families looking for a different kind of day out. Where is it? Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai Tickets Tickets are unavailable for purchase yet. You can sign up on the official website to receive early bird access. The Hong Kong International Film Festival What is it? Founded in 1976, The HK International Film Festival (HKIFF) is Asia’s oldest festival of its kind and has gained a huge following, both locally and internationally. This year, the HKIFF will once again showcase an impressive lineup of new and noteworthy films, exposing local visitors to international films and showcasing Hong Kong and Asian cinema to the world. Where? Films are shown at various venues across Hong Kong, including Emperor Cinemas in both Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay, Premiere Elements in Kowloon, and Hong Kong Arts Centre Louis Koo Cinema in Wan Chai. Tickets Tickets prices vary depending on the film and amount of tickets purchased. On a Cheapo budget? Check out the weekday matinee shows from as low as . Students and seniors pay . It’s worth noting that sold-out screenings usually do have a limited number of stand-by tickets on sale 30 minutes prior to the film time. Tickets are sold online and on the door for most venues, but check with the venue first as some (some as M+ Cinema) only allow you to purchase online. French May What is it? Running for almost 30 years, French May has been delighting Hong Kong audiences with its wide variety of art, dance, music, film and gastronomy programmes. Focusing on mostly French culture, this festival is a fantastic opportunity to see extremely notable works without having to leave HK shores. French May also takes pride in showcasing emerging artists, both international and those from the local scene and with over 150 programmes to choose from, it’s hard not to find something you’ll enjoy. Where is it? The festival programmes take place in a variety of venues across HK, from the more traditional HK City Hall and HK Cultural Center to various public spaces, museums, art galleries and even shopping malls. Tickets Ticketing information for 2025 is not yet available but more information can be found on the official French May website. This post was written by Holly Booth and first published in March 2023. Last updated: January 2025.

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