Freespace Happening, Hong Kong's free outdoor event, will return on September 11 to the Central Lawn of the Nursery Park. Organized by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA), the festival will take place on the second weekend of every month until March next year, presenting a wide range of activities such as musical performances, literature, dance, workshops, and handicraft markets.The festival's main highlight will be its music lineup, handpicked from the region and locally, encompassing a diverse set of styles and genres. The audience will witness the music of folk-rock band Sheng-Xiang & Band from Taiwan, Toy Captain from the island of Chaoshan, as well as Hakgwai from Hong Kong, to name a few. There will also be a monthly theme featuring these different styles and bands, including rock, jazz, and classical music. Additionally, Youth Outreach — the festival’s program partner — will add a touch of indie music to the list by bringing in more local bands.Various other organizations have partnered with Freespace Happening to curate its programs, aiming to nurture local and regional talent and thus “strengthen the cultural ecosystem and pave the way for their future participation in WKCDA’s programs,” according to a press release.The House of Hong Kong Literature will also participate, curating 11 literary activities throughout the duration of the event. The program involves a creative workshop for the audience to design their own kites, and a self-explanatory literary activity titled “Reading on the Grass.” The WKCDA will also co-present “ohmykids Market,” a new initiative for children with the organization's new partner ohmykids. WE Dance will return once again, building on its success last year, and will stage different dance groups every month.Louis Yu, the Executive Director of Performing Arts at WKCDA, mentioned in a statement that the construction of Freespace — a performing arts venue in the Art Park — will begin soon. Consequently, he emphasized the significance of this festival, including its logistics and strong curatorial program, to entice future visitors to the location.“Freespace Happening will be more ambitious with regard to operational trials on public space management, park operations, and arts programming, alongside a more diverse list of programs in the hope that more visitors will become potential users of Freespace in the future,” said Yu. Freespace is expected to open in 2019.Freespace Happening runs from September 11 through March 2017 at the Central Lawn of the Nursery Park, Hong Kong.
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