The Hong Kong Fringe Club, a pivotal non-profit arts center, is ending 2023 on a triumphant note after securing its place in the city’s Central district for another term. This decision comes after an intense period of uncertainty and a crucial trial phase for the new management that assumed control following the departure of the club’s founder, Benny Chia Chun-heng, in August 2022.
After a competitive bidding process against five other contenders, the government recently confirmed that the Fringe Club will continue operating in the South Block of the Old Dairy Farm Depot at 2 Lower Albert Road. This venue, a Grade 1-listed historic building, is now managed by the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Bureau and has been the Fringe Club’s home since its establishment by Chia in 1983.
Originally set up as the home for the Fringe Festival, the Fringe Club has evolved into a permanent exhibition and performance space. Its distinctive 110-year-old brick and stucco building, a former ice warehouse, has become one of Hong Kong’s most recognized cultural landmarks. For years, Chia and administrator Catherine Lau Kam-ling steered the club, balancing its artistic mission with government support.
However, the lease renewal process in spring 2022 led to tensions and a year-long lease amid disagreements between the club’s management and board. The COVID-19 pandemic further strained operations, prompting Chia and Lau to adopt a more decentralized management approach. Their subsequent departure and legal actions for unpaid salaries added to the club’s challenges.
The interim management team, led by acting chairman Anson Chan Yiu-cheung, has since revitalized the club with exhibitions, concerts, and popular weekly events, like swing dancing sessions. Financial stability is partially ensured by rental income from the Chinese restaurant Nove, located on the club’s second floor.
The upcoming three-year service agreement with the Culture Bureau, effective from April 2024, outlines ten key performance indicators and the requirement for safeguarding national security. Remarkably, the operator will not pay rent to the government under this agreement. A new board is scheduled for election after March 31, 2024.
The Fringe Club’s future plans include the introduction of arts tech programs, cross-genre showcases, and Chinese cultural events, maintaining its status as an iconic arts and culture landmark. The board’s recent addition includes Regina Leung Tong Ching-yee, wife of former chief executive Leung Chun-ying, and Gustav Mak Ka-lok, founder of the Global Symphony Orchestra.
In related arts news, independent gallery Current Plans announced its relocation to the Wong Chuk Hang art district, facilitated by Mimi Brown of Spring Workshop. This move comes after an eviction notice from its Kowloon space, leading to a collaborative effort to continue providing a platform for contemporary art in Hong Kong. Spring Workshop, a 14,500 sq ft space in the Remex Centre, is known for its vibrant history of hosting art exhibitions, talks, and cultural events, making it an ideal new home for Current Plans.
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