1 June 2022

Venturing into the future world of the arts

 

From NFT art to the application of artificial intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality, recent advancements in digital technology have opened up new avenues in the world of arts.

The use of these technologies in the arts is expanding, and the metaverse is being used more and more as a space to interact with different creative mediums. It is indisputable that advancements in technology have enabled many new possibilities in terms of the creation of art, and the integration of the arts and technology is an important future global trend.

On top of this, the boundaries between different areas of knowledge, disciplines, and forms of communication and art have been breaking down. Taking a transdisciplinary approach is a rising new trend, be it in learning and teaching, innovating solutions to problems, or even creating works of art. Click here to embark on an amazing art-tech journey at HKBU through this fascinating video directed by Mr Penny Cheng, an alumnus of the School of Communication, featuring our talented students, and showcasing our art-tech research and applications.

While the future is unknown, HKBU experts in the creative arts are unlocking the infinite possibilities of the unknown with art-tech. Our vision of futurity has also driven the establishment of the School of Creative Arts.

With the new school in place from 1 July 2022, we will strive to nurture the next generation of creative talent for Hong Kong, take the development of the creative arts to a higher level, and set new standards for future teaching and research. Consisting of the Academy of Film, Academy of Music and Academy of Visual Arts, our strongest areas in the creative arts, the School will be an ideal platform where the best art and artists can emerge and converge. When they come under one roof, we can expect greater synergies and enhanced collaboration amongst the scholars from different disciplines, leading to an enriched student learning experience and more diversified and impactful research outputs in the creative arts and culture by capitalising on the latest technological advancements.

In addition to the existing programmes that we offer in the disciplines of acting, film, music and visual arts, the School will also house two new transdisciplinary programmes, namely the Bachelor of Arts and Science (Hons) in Arts and Technology and the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Business Administration (Global Entertainment), which will be launched this September. These two uniquely designed programmes will nurture future-ready students who are well-versed not only in the arts and culture, but also in business and technology, providing the much-needed personnel for the development of a diverse ecosystem including content, marketing, administration, audience development, and education for Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.

With increased support from the National 14th Five-Year Plan, which is boosting Hong Kong’s transition into a hub for arts and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world, and the HKSAR Government’s vision to position Hong Kong as Asia’s city of culture and creativity, the establishment of the School of Creative Arts is undoubtedly the right move for HKBU, and it will enable us to better serve Hong Kong and the nation. I sincerely hope you will join me in supporting our mission of nurturing future talent in the creative arts and augmenting the future world of art-tech.