Art Mart 2003: "Made in Hong Kong, for Hong Kong"
- a fund raising campaign for Para/Site Art Space
(中文新聞稿)

Art Mart 2003 is a major fund raising campaign held between December 10th –19th 2003, a cutting-edge festival of parties and exhibitions featuring more than 100 works by 50 over local artists to be sold in time for Christmas. The aim is to raise funds for one of the city’s most significant non-profit arts bodies - Para/Site Art Space.

Since 1996 Para/Site Art Space has played a pivotal role in nurturing Hong Kong’s art scene, with its flagship gallery in Sheung Wan, its publications promoting art criticism and overseas activities – notably this year’s participation at the famed Venice Biennale. Over seven years Para/Site has supported more than 400 artists, however funding for 2004 is low. Our goal is to raise HK$300,000.

THE OPENING LAUNCH PARTY, 7.00 – 9.00 pm, Wed, December 10th, 2003
Art Mart opens with a star-studded launch party at Star Street hotspot 1/5 on December 10th, 2003. During the night, works donated by some of the Hong Kong’s most well-known names will be sold at set prices of $3,000 and $5,000 to an eclectic and diverse audience of celebrities, patrons and supporters of the arts. There will be groovy tunes from favorite Hong Kong DJ’s - DJ Simon Pang and Vincent, playing with super saxophonist Steff Lawrence, performance artists and champagne and dim sum. This is an invite-only event.

ART MART ARTIST PARTY and THE EXHIBITION, December 12th – 19th, 2003
Two days later, on December 12th, 2003 a three-week exhibition of more than 100 works kicks off at the Para/Site Art Space with an Artist party. All of the artworks are selling for $1,000 per piece, 50% of which will be given back to the artists, 50% donated to Para/Site. The event will give audiences the chance to see a diverse exhibition representing a cross-section of “Made in Hong Kong art” – it is also an opportunity to pick up art works at remarkably affordable prices. To secure the best viewing, tickets to Artist party are being sold for $100 and are available from Para/Site Art Space. Program of the night will include a lucky draw, performances and an evening of Heineken beer and sangria.

WHITE CUBE @ YUMLA
“White Cube @ Yumla” is the closing party for Art Mart 2003 and marked for December 19th, 2003. The event takes place in Yumla, arguably Hong Kong’s most respected new music venue. With art on the walls, video projections and performance artists on the prowl - even the DJs are being chosen for their artistic flair. Names include renowned painter Simon Birch, installation art whiz Steve Yau, film-maker Sean Fitzpatrick and other names to be confirmed… 25% of proceeds from drink sales on the night will be donated to Para/Site Art Space and the artists will again be on hand for people to meet.

SATELLITE EVENTS
French artist Jean Sebastien Lalleman will be holding an exhibition of his unique works at the recently opened Fabrica Features from December 15th, 2003 till January 27th, 2004. Jean Sebastien Lalleman will be supporting Art Mart 2003 by donating a percentage of sales of his art pieces to Para/Site Art Space.

As this press release is being sent out, negotiations are still under way with GOD on a retail alliance featuring art installations from the Art Mart 2003 show in their selected shops, with a percentage of sales of a nominated item to be donated to Para/Site Art Space from December 7th, 2003 till Christmas.

WHERE THE MONEY WILL GO…
Money raised in this campaign will be used to directly support a wealth of Hong Kong artists, curators and writers to realize their projects in 2004 and for the administration expenses required for the operation of the Para/Site Art Space. The aim is also to bring recognition to scores of local artists and an important art body who have been quietly boosting this city’s art scene for the past seven years.

We like to acknowledge and thank the following sponsors for Art Mart 2003 -

Corporate Sponsors:
Sovereign Art Foundation, Lourve Gallery

Venue sponsors:
1/5, Yumla

Beverage Sponsors:
Veuve Clicquot
Smirnoff Vodka
Heineken
Planet Time

Food sponsor:
Lin Heung

Thanks also to Stanley Wong who designed the Art Mart logo and all marketing materials, Jean Sebastien Lalleman, Fabrica Features, GOD and lucky draw prize sponsors, Hal Club, LKF Entertainments and Benetton.

A complete artist list will be released later. Some of the names so far…
Craig Au-Yeung, Chan Yuk Keung, Lui Chun Kwong, Chu Hing Wah, Almond Chu, So Hing Keung, Caroline Cheng, Leung Chi Wo, Francis Yu, Freeman Lau, Jaffa Lam Laam, Stella Tang, Tsang Tak Ping, Rosanna Lee, Stanley Wong, Fiona Wong, Tim Li, Simon Birch, Sin Yuen, Frog King(aka Kwok Man Ho)

Media enquiries:
Please contact the fund raiser and event organizer, Passion Works, at:
Clare Tyrrell: 6197 4588, claretyrrell@netvigator.com
Michelle Fong: 9520 7017, michelle@passionworks.com.hk