04/07/2022
Jockey Club presents ¡§Drago Cavallo¡¨ art showcase to bring creativity and positivity to the community
To mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and to inspire the community and especially its youth, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is pleased to announce the opening of ¡§Drago Cavallo. Travel Around Hong Kong¡¨. The showcase of sculptures created by acclaimed artist Simon Ma and local students will embark on a tour across Hong Kong to bring creativity and positivity to the community. In addition, the Club is launching ¡§Drago Cavallo. Youth Art Competition¡¨ to invite more students to take part in the creation of Drago Cavallo art.
Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, artist Simon Ma, Po Leung Kuk Chairman Dr Daniel Chan, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Chairman Philip Ma and the talented students whose artwork adorns the special anniversary Drago Cavallo sculptures took part in a ceremony in the evening on 3 July at Tai Kwun to kick off the ¡§Drago Cavallo. Travel Around Hong Kong¡¨ tour.
¡§Drago Cavallo is a wonderful initiative for our younger generation, providing them with a platform to express themselves and showcase their creativity. I would like to thank Simon Ma for initiating this meaningful programme, and all partners for their collaboration. Creativity is key to innovation, and innovation is vital to maintaining Hong Kong¡¦s competitive edge. This is why continuous development is one of the Club¡¦s core values,¡¨ Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said. ¡§This art showcase is just one of many programmes the Club is proud to support through its ¡¥With You. Now. Always.¡¦ initiative. As we mark the HKSAR¡¦s 25th anniversary, the Club hopes these activities will instil positivity in the community and optimism for the future of Hong Kong.¡¨
Inspired by the ancient Chinese mythical Dragon Horse, Drago Cavallo is a contemporary expression of Chinese culture and a symbol of inspiration.
From now until 10 July at Tai Kwun, a total of 43 Drago Cavallo sculptures of various sizes, will tour the community together with a series of interactive experiences of the ¡§With You. Then. Now. Always.¡¨ exhibition. The Drago Cavallo art showcase will make appearances at significant landmarks across the city including the East Coast Park Precinct, Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, and other locations.
Additionally, ¡§Drago Cavallo. Flash Mob¡¨ will see Drago Cavallo making brief surprise appearances at other locations citywide. So follow Drago Cavallo on a trail of positivity around Hong Kong and explore how the Club has supported some of Hong Kong¡¦s most significant community developments. Full details of programmes and activities can be found on the ¡§With You. Then. Now. Always.¡¨ campaign website at https://hkjc.com/withyou/en.
The Club also invites school students to find inspiration through the citywide ¡§Drago Cavallo. Youth Art Competition¡¨. Shortlisted drawings will join a Drago Cavallo World Tour, including to Beijing and Shanghai.
The Club is committed to building stronger communities together. This is made possible by its unique integrated business model, through which racing and wagering generate tax and charity support for the community.
Over the last 25 years, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has grown together with the community, creating one of Hong Kong¡¦s most iconic and global brands and becoming a world-leader in the sport of horse racing. Today, as the largest taxpayer in Hong Kong and one of the ten largest charitable donors in the world, the Club is resolute in pursuing its purpose of acting continuously for the betterment of our society.
To mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of HKSAR, the Club has donated up to HK$630 million to the HKSAR Government to organise some 60 programmes spanning five key areas of arts and culture, sports, caring for the community, green living and international conferences.
Funded by a HK$3.5 billion donation from the Club¡¦s Charities Trust, the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) is also opening to the public on 3 July. The HKPM will play a vital role in fostering Hong Kong¡¦s arts and culture development while also strengthening Hong Kong¡¦s connection with the Mainland and the rest of the world.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2020/21, the Club returned a total of HK$29.4 billion to the community. This included HK$24.9 billion to the Government in duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$4.5 billion in approved charity donations. The Club is Hong Kong's largest single taxpayer and one of the city's major employers. Its Charities Trust is also one of the world's top ten charity donors. The Club is always "riding high together for a better future" with the people of Hong Kong. Please visit www.hkjc.com.
Photos
Photo 1: Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (back row, 8th left); Club Executive Director, Membership, Strategic Marketing and Branding, Anthony Ingham (back row, 7th left); artist Simon Ma (back row, 8th right); Po Leung Kuk Chairman Dr Daniel Chan (back row, 6th left) and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Chairman Philip Ma (back row, 7th right) officiate at the ¡§Drago Cavallo¡¨ kick-off ceremony together with other guests and participating students.
Photo 2, 3, 4: Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (Photo 2, left) offers praise to students whose artwork adorns the special anniversary Drago Cavallo sculptures.
Photo 5, 6: Around 50 students from Po Leung Kuk and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals primary and secondary schools gathered at Sha Tin Racecourse earlier in June to bring the mini Drago Cavallo sculptures to life with their creative designs. Sharing their positivity and creative energy was Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (Photo 5, right). The Club¡¦s CARE@hkjc volunteer team (in red shirts) also joined in to support the students.
Photo 7, 8: Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges puts the finishing touches to a two-metre-tall Drago Cavallo.
Photo 9, 10, 11, 12: The ¡§Drago Cavallo¡¨ and the ¡§With You. Then. Now. Always.¡¨ exhibition will appear in locations across the city, starting at Tai Kwun.
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Photos can be downloaded from The Hong Kong Jockey Club website (http://corporate.hkjc.com/corporate/english/corporate-news/index.aspx).
Media enquiries
Luella Chow
Assistant Public Affairs Manager (Corporate and Media Services)
Tel: 2966 8791
Jennifer Wong
Public Affairs Support Manager (Corporate and Media Services)
Tel: 2966 8460
