The Concert Hall of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (the Academy) has been named after Mr William Au, SBS JP as “William Au Concert Hall”, in appreciation of his long-term support.
To recognise Mr Au’s tremendous support, the Naming Ceremony of William Au Concert Hall was held today. The Ceremony was officiated by Mr William Au SBS JP and his family. It was also attended by the Academy Council Chairman, Mr Charles Yang BBS JP and the Academy Director, Professor Anna CY Chan.
Academy Council Chairman Mr Charles Yang expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Mr Au for his long-term support to the Academy. “When Mr William Au learned that this year marks the 40th Anniversary of the Academy, he readily accepted our invitation to serve as the Honorary Chairman of the Honorary Fundraising Organising Campaign Committee. He also presented the Academy with a meaningful birthday gift - his generous support for the Academy’s ongoing development and scholarship initiatives.”
At the ceremony, Mr Au thanked the Academy for naming the Concert Hall after him. He remarked, “The success of Hong Kong, as a key cultural hub bridging East and West, will not be possible without the development of arts and culture. I am very pleased to witness the continuous development and achievements of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and I am grateful to the Academy for its contribution and efforts in enabling talented young people to pursue their dreams and give back to society through art. I hope my humble support to the Academy can set an example for more esteemed members of society to donate to the Academy to provide more support and resources to the Academy to nurture a new generation of performing arts and technical talents for Hong Kong and the country.”
Academy Director Professor Anna CY Chan added, “The Academy has once again ranked among the Top 20 in the QS World University Rankings for Performing Arts this year, reaffirming our leading position in global performing arts education. William's generous donation not only provides essential resources for nurturing future professional performing artists worldwide but also supports the Academy in further implementing its goals in the new ten-year strategic plan, such as the planning of the Northern Metropolis campus. This will also enable the Academy to continuously advance as an international hub for arts development, global influence, innovation in technology and performing arts and sustainable development.”
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About 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 leading tertiary institution in performing arts. It provides professional undergraduate education and practice-based postgraduate studies. The study encompasses Chinese Opera, Dance, Drama, Film and Television, Music, and Theatre and Entertainment Arts. Its educational philosophy reflects the cultural diversity of Hong Kong with emphasis on Chinese and Western traditions, and interdisciplinary learning.
Since 2008, the Academy has attained the Programme Area Accreditation (PAA) status awarded by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) to self-monitor and accredit its own undergraduate and post-secondary programmes in the five programme areas of Dance, Drama, Film and Television, Music, and Theatre and Entertainment Arts. Since 2016, the PAA status has been extended to cover Master’s Degree programmes and below; and since 2023, the programmes operated by the School of Chinese Opera accredited by HKCAAVQ have also received PAA status for its post-secondary and undergraduate programmes.
Besides the main campus in Wanchai, Béthanie, the site of the Academy’s Landmark Heritage Campus in Pokfulam, has housed training facilities for the School of Film and Television since 2006.
In the QS University Rankings announced in 2025, the Academy ranks top 20 in the Performing Arts category.