Co-presented by The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) and the Hong Kong Culture and Sustainability Centre (HKCUSU), the first day of the Hong Kong Culture and Sustainability Conference 2026 (CU:SU 2026) kicked off successfully at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Amphitheatre of the Academy today. The two-day conference (12-13 October) is held under the theme "Alliance for Action", bringing together 46 speakers and moderators from 42 organisations across 17 cities—comprising cultural leaders, academics, and practitioners—to drive practical solutions for sustainable development across arts, culture, and community building.
The conference was graced by The Honourable Bernadette Linn JP, Secretary for Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), who delivered a keynote address on the role of culture in shaping sustainable and resilient communities. The Honourable Kenneth Fok BBS JP, Member of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR also delivered an address. Among the distinguished guests attending the conference was Ms Manda Chan, JP, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services.
A key highlight of today was the launch of the Theatre Green Book (Hong Kong) by HKAPA, marking the first Hong Kong adaptation of the internationally recognised framework originally developed in the United Kingdom and widely adopted across Europe and the Americas. As the first Theatre Green Book initiative launched in the Greater Bay Area, the framework provides practical guidance on sustainable production, building management, and venue operations, while offering arts professionals valuable insights into how these principles can be adapted and implemented within Hong Kong’s cultural ecosystem. Developed and introduced by HKAPA, the Theatre Green Book (Hong Kong) reflects the Academy’s strong commitment to embedding sustainability into performing arts education and practice. Beyond serving as a practical resource for the sector, the framework has been integrated into teaching and learning at HKAPA and made freely accessible to theatre-makers, arts organisations and venues, supporting long-term ecological transformation across the wider performing arts community.
Dr Lisa Burger, Co-Founder of the Theatre Green Book, highlighted during the conference: "To drive meaningful change, we must look beyond individual productions to the entire cultural ecosystem — from theatres and educational institutions to policymakers. While a common language allows us to collaborate globally, sustainable solutions must remain flexible enough to adapt to local conditions and practices. Real transformation happens when we empower local communities to take collective ownership of these frameworks."
Download the Theatre Green Book (Hong Kong) – adaptation by HKAPA
https://www.hkapa.edu/about-hkapa/sustainability
Details of Hong Kong Culture and Sustainability Conference 2026
Date: Monday & Tuesday, 12-13 October 2026
Venue: Hong Kong Jockey Club Amphitheatre, HKAPA
Event website: cusu2026.hkapa.edu
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The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (www.hkapa.edu)
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), established by The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Ordinance in 1984, is a world-leading higher education institution for the performing arts. It provides professionally-oriented undergraduate education and postgraduate studies in Chinese Opera, Dance, Drama, Film and Television, Music, and Theatre and Entertainment Arts. Its educational philosophy reflects the cultural diversity of Hong Kong with an emphasis on Chinese and Western traditions, and interdisciplinary learning. In the 2026 QS World University Rankings, the Academy ranks 10th for Performing Arts and 1st in Asia.
The Academy has been granted Programme Area Accreditation status by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications to award its own Certificates, Diplomas, Bachelor’s (Honours) Degrees and Master’s Degrees. In the past four decades, more than 10 000 artists have graduated from the Academy, going on to become performing artists, creative arts practitioners, filmmakers, educators, and cultural leaders with global impact – many have won international awards and shone in their respective artistic fields.
Besides the main campus in Wanchai, Béthanie, the Academy’s landmark heritage campus in Pokfulam, houses educational facilities for the School of Film and Television.
Hong Kong Culture and Sustainability Centre (HKCUSU) (https://www.cusunetwork.com)
Founded in 2025, led by Founder and Executive Director Louis Yu, with governance provided by a Board of Directors chaired by Prof. Sun Man Tseng and members Ms Babby Fung and Ms Helen So, the Centre brings together stakeholders from the culture, business, environment, innovative technology, social services, and education sectors in Hong Kong and the region.
The objectives are to promote sustainable development through arts and culture for public benefit in Hong Kong and worldwide; to serve as a platform in Hong Kong that connects the culture, business, environment, information technology, social services, and education sectors; to enhance cultural understanding and sustainability through collaboration; to build links with similar organisations in mainland China and around the world for knowledge and resource sharing; and to conduct activities focused on charitable goals and community welfare.
The main project is the annual Hong Kong Culture and Sustainability Conference.