Exploring, Kindling, Creating, Connecting
As Hong Kong has unveiled the East Kowloon Cultural Centre (EKCC) this month, the city stands at the crossroads of creativity and innovation. Conceived as Hong Kong’s first performance venue dedicated to “Arts + Technology”, the EKCC represents more than an architectural landmark – it is a living laboratory for experimentation, collaboration and cultural exchange.
In this exclusive interview, Senior Manager Barry NG explores how the centre is redefining performance for the digital age, and what it means for the future of Hong Kong’s cultural landscape.
The East Kowloon Cultural Centre (EKCC) opens this month as Hong Kong’s newest international-level flagship performance venue. What does this moment represent for the city’s cultural landscape, and why was East Kowloon chosen as its home?
The opening of the East Kowloon Cultural Centre (EKCC) marks an important milestone for Hong Kong’s arts and cultural development. Building on the government’s 2024 Blueprint for Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Development, the EKCC aims to unlock new possibilities for Hong Kong’s arts sector by harnessing the power of technology.
Managed by Hong Kong’s Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the EKCC is the city’s first performance venue focusing on “Arts + Technology” – a fusion of creativity and innovation that also makes it an ideal venue for both experimental and in-progress works, as well as
long-running productions.
Strategically located in East Kowloon, next to the new Kai Tak Sports Park, the EKCC complements the integration of culture, sports and tourism, strengthening Hong Kong’s position as an international cultural destination.
The centre’s motto, “Where the arts meet the future”, perfectly captures its dual identity. How do you see EKCC redefining what a cultural venue can be in the 21st century?
A new venue is more than just an upgrade in infrastructure – it marks a new chapter in Hong Kong’s cultural evolution, ushering in an era of more diverse, professional and large-scale productions. With world-class facilities and a professional stage team, the EKCC aims to nurture new generations of talent. Beyond traditional stage performances, the EKCC seeks to catalyse the convergence of arts and technology, nurturing experimental work into full-scale productions while presenting outstanding local and international programmes.
Globally, audiences have embraced immersive art spaces such as teamLab, Frameless and Meow Wolf. With so many opportunities ahead, EKCC invites artists and audiences to embark on a journey of discovery – exploring how technology can reshape what a cultural venue can be.
With facilities ranging from immersive sound systems to 4K projection and automated tracking, EKCC is equipped for the next era of performance. How will these technologies transform the creative process for artists and the experience for audiences?
The EKCC is equipped with a full suite of advanced systems, from immersive audio and 4K projection mapping to automated tracking and live streaming. These innovations expand the creative vocabulary available to artists, inviting them to reimagine the possibilities of theatre – experimenting with videography, moving between physical and digital spaces, and collaborating across disciplines to discover new forms of expression.
For audiences, the experience shifts from passive observation to active participation. Multisensory engagement fosters a deeper, more personal connection, creating performances that are not merely watched, but
truly experienced.
To support this new creative potential, EKCC offers five purpose-built spaces designed for different modes of performance: The Hall (a 1,200-seat multi-functional auditorium with a traditional proscenium stage), The Theatre (a 500-seat space designed for closer audience interaction in a thrust-stage format), The Turns (an immersive projection-enabled dance studio), The Beats (a soundproof audio recording and mixing studio), and The Lab (a flexible experimental space for arts and technology). Each has been conceived to push the boundaries of how performances can be created, shared and experienced.
EKCC positions itself not only as a stage but also as an incubator – a space for experimentation and collaboration between artists and technologists. How do you plan to cultivate that creative ecosystem within the centre?
To cultivate a creative ecosystem, the EKCC has introduced The Lab, a new experimental space dedicated to work-in-progress and technology-driven creations. This fully equipped facility supports the creation of new work while fostering the exchange of knowledge and experience – serving as an incubator for emerging talent.
Even before the venue’s official opening, EKCC launched the “Unbox EKCC” trial programme series in 2024, collaborating with over 200 artists, technologists and curators on 20 interdisciplinary programmes totalling more than 500 performances and events. One such creation was Lullabies by Hong Kong artist Kingsley Ng. Using tracking devices, the work created the illusion of a train gliding through the foyer from the adjacent train station, accompanied by immersive sound and light installations inside The Theatre. The piece captured the imagination of audiences, drawing over 9,000 visitors during summer 2025.
With the EKCC Academy for Arts Tech, you’re also cultivating the next generation of creators. What kind of talent or skillsets do you see as most vital for the future of Hong Kong’s arts-tech scene?
In addition to its programming and facilities, the EKCC Academy for Arts Tech was established to nurture new talents. The Academy aims to provide training programmes across various arts and technology disciplines. These include short courses, placements and a structured 24-month Arts Tech Trainee Programme designed to support the sustainable growth of the sector in Hong Kong.
The Academy collaborates with educational institutions and technology organisations in Hong Kong and beyond, offering training, internships and showcase opportunities. It also partners with artists on experimental projects to exchange knowledge and expertise. Beyond developing these skills, the Academy helps graduates prepare for working within the industry through hands-on experience in the EKCC’s arts and technology programmes. Rather than focusing on a specific skillset, an open and collaborative mindset is perhaps the most essential quality in this interdisciplinary field.
Hong Kong has long sought to establish itself as a regional hub for culture and innovation. How will EKCC contribute to that vision and to the city’s cultural exchange with the rest of the world?
Equipped with cutting-edge facilities and expertise, the EKCC will broaden Hong Kong’s cultural horizons by encouraging the fusion of arts and technology, fostering collaboration, nurturing talent and supporting long-running productions that sustain a vibrant creative ecosystem. Debuting the new cultural landmark also helps to achieve the goal of “shaping tourism with cultural activities and promoting culture through tourism.”
To strengthen cultural exchange, the EKCC welcomes programme proposals from both local and international artists that integrate arts and technology. The Opening Season itself is a reflection of that vision, featuring 17 productions from Hong Kong, Austria, Canada, Singapore, Australia and the UK. Across a rich line-up of music, dance, theatre and immersive experiences, these creative minds will showcase the transformative potential of arts technology.
Your opening season features 17 programmes and 80 performances across four months. What story does this line-up tell about the centre’s identity and ambitions?
For its inauguration, the Opening Season will showcase the full creative potential of the EKCC – animating its theatres, studios and public spaces with the transformative power of arts–technology and sparking imagination for artists and audiences alike.
Beyond the stages, interactive arts installations and projection mapping shows will fill the complex with light and sound, inviting the wider community to join in the celebration.
HighLights – The Memories of Charles Kao pays tribute to Hong Kong’s own Nobel laureate and the father of fibre optics. Why was this production chosen to mark the centre’s opening, and how does it reflect EKCC’s fusion of art and science?
HighLights – The Memories of Charles Kao is an original Cantonese musical commissioned by the EKCC to mark its grand opening. Written and directed by Hong Kong playwright Erica Li, the work draws inspiration from Nobel laureate Professor Kao’s lifelong pursuit of knowledge and unwavering belief in science, tracing his remarkable journey as a pioneering scientist and devoted educator.
The story also explores the enduring love between Kao and his wife Gwen – an aspect of his life rarely depicted on stage. Through the integration of arts and technology, the musical weaves together the past and present through Kao’s memories and features 20 original songs by Hong Kong Music Director Johnny Yim.
Pulse/Pulse/Pulse and Lucie in the Sky each explore human connection through technology – whether in rhythm, light or movement. How do these works embody the spirit of experimentation EKCC hopes to inspire?
The debate over humanity and technology has been ongoing for centuries. Whatever one’s view, our relationship with technology is inseparable from daily life. Lucie in the Sky takes a bold step by giving drones a sense of vitality and personality, choreographing them to emulate complex human emotions and dance alongside human dancers. Created by the award-winning Australasian Dance Collective in collaboration with Swiss drone pioneer Verity Studios, the work blends dance and technology to challenge audiences’ perceptions of the delicate balance between humans and machines.
Pulse/Pulse/Pulse takes audiences on a journey into the pulsation of the human body, the beat of sound and the flicker of digital signals. Developed by Hong Kong Artistic Director Keith Lam, Music Director Alan Kwan and Choreographer Ivanhoe Lam, the work explores the relationship between movement, sound and light. Gestures generate visuals; soundwaves modulate light and motion. Together, these elements merge into a single, fluid sensory experience that reimagines how we perceive rhythm and form.
Alongside other works in the Opening Season, the EKCC welcomes a diverse range of arts–technology productions, demonstrating how technology can deepen our sense of human connection.
Finally, as technology, culture and audience expectations continue to evolve, what do you hope EKCC will represent for Hong Kong in the years ahead – and what do you hope visitors will take away from their first experience of the centre?
The opening of the EKCC contributes to building Hong Kong into a regional hub for the dynamic integration of innovative technology with arts and culture. With five state-of-the-art performance spaces, it will further reinforce Hong Kong’s role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
In the years ahead, the EKCC will continue to Explore, Kindle, Create and Connect – staying true to the spirit behind its name – as it grows into a creative incubator, a cultural landmark, and a platform where artists and technologists can explore new possibilities together.
Through the application of arts technology, visitors will experience multisensory engagements and find personal connections in a rich tapestry of artistic journeys at the EKCC. The “Unbox EKCC” trial programme series has already shown how deeply audiences can be immersed in such experiences. Yet ultimately, no words can fully capture it – audiences will have to witness it for themselves.
