Conversations
Leadership Talk — Nordic Countries
Venue
Great Lawn, Art Park, West Kowloon Cultural District
Google Map
Date and time (HKT)
18 Oct (Fri) 11:15
Pass holder
FULLDAYSTUDENT
Full pass holders, Day pass holders and Students pass holders are eligible to attend
Language
Simultaneous interpretation is available in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

Join us for a captivating series of leadership presentations featuring art leaders from around the world. These influential speakers will take you on a journey through their personal experiences and practices in their respective regions and countries. Gain valuable insights into the art world as these leaders will share their strategies and innovative approaches, allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of the art world and its ever-evolving scene.

Kai Amberla

Executive Director, Finland Festivals

Kai Amberla

After graduating from university with an Master of Arts in world literature and musicology and completing conservatory training in classical guitar, Kai Amberla initially pursued a career in teaching. In 1990, he was appointed Editor-in-Chief of Rondo, Finland’s only professional classical music magazine. In 1995, he was invited to assume the post of Executive Director of the Association of Finnish Symphony Orchestras. In 2002, Amberla was appointed as the Executive Director of the Finnish Music Information Centre (Fimic). In 2007, he moved on to become the Executive Director of Finland Festivals, a collaboration forum of nearly a hundred of Finland’s leading arts events.

Kai Amberla is also a consultant to a number of Finnish music foundations and organisations. He is active internationally both at the Nordic Baltic Festival Platform and the European Festivals Association. Additionally, he serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA).

Finland Festivals

Finland Festivals Association brings together the country’s finest festivals, providing music for all tastes, together with the most fascinating dance, theatre, literature, visual art, film and children’s cultural events. Finland Festivals is a non-profit organisation that serves the culture and tourism sector, representing the collective interests of festivals, including promotion and public relations, information gathering, research and training. 

Finland Festivals works to improve operating conditions for festivals and to influence government policy in its sector by establishing close ties with parties that formulate relevant public policy.

Finland Festivals assists in promoting festival events in Finland and abroad and improving their expertise by organising training, consulting, networking events and brainstorming. Finland Festivals provides a collective voice for the festival sector and serves as a leading specialist and unparalleled information source to be consulted whenever policy decisions are taken that affect festival operations.

Vigdis Jakobsdottir

Artistic Director & CEO, Reykjavik Arts Festival

Vigdis Jakobsdottir

Vigdis Jakobsdottir is the outgoing Artistic Director and CEO of the Reykjavik Arts Festival, Iceland’s leading multi-arts event, which she has led since 2016. She is committed to the power of the arts to challenge perceptions, influence societal change, and celebrate humanity. Vigdis believes that access to the arts should be available to everyone, not just the privileged few.

Before leading the Reykjavik Arts Festival, Vigdis directed performances at the National Theatre of Iceland and with independent theatre companies. She also served as Head of Education and Outreach at the National Theatre, was a programme director for MA studies in Theatre Education at the Iceland Academy of the Arts, and founded two performing arts festivals for young audiences. Additionally, she served on the executive committee of ASSITEJ, including one term as vice president.

Driven by her passion for meaningful artistic exchanges, Vigdis has been sought after internationally for over 15 years as a speaker, facilitator and workshop leader.

Reykjavik Arts Festival

Founded in 1970, the Reykjavik Arts Festival is Iceland’s primary multi-arts event, showcasing a rich array of local and international talent across multiple disciplines and of varying scales. Celebrated as one of Northern Europe’s most significant arts festivals, it presents an eclectic mix of performances, exhibitions, and installations that push creative boundaries.

The festival serves as a vital platform for both established and emerging artists, offering them a stage to share innovative work with diverse audiences. Access and inclusion are core to the festival’s mission, ensuring that art is enjoyed by all sectors of the community. Under the leadership of Vigdis Jakobsdottir, the festival has reached a broader audience and fostered deep cross-cultural exchanges.

Dr. Joanna C. Lee (Moderator)

Founder, Museworks Limited

Dr. Joanna C. Lee (Moderator)

Dr. Joanna C. Lee has served as consultant and translator for such institutions as the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and the New York Asian Film Festival. Since 2004, she is the regular host and interpreter at the Hong Kong International Film Festival and the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum. She was a publicity consultant for the “Big Five” American orchestras on their Asian tours as well as consulting producer for San Francisco Opera’s Dream of the Red Chamber. She is currently serving as outreach consultant for multiple Broadway and Off-Broadway productions in New York. She has served as an on-stage interpreter for former US President Jimmy Carter, Chinese director Jia Zhangke and artist Xu Bing, as well as provided opera surtitles for the China National Centre for the Performing Arts and the Beijing Music Festival. She is the English surtitle author for the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre since 2007.

Photo Credit: Lia Chang

Schedule for Leadership Talks

15 Oct 2024 (Tue) 16 Oct 2024 (Wed) 17 Oct 2024 (Thu) 18 Oct 2024 (Fri)
1045 – 1200
  • Kenneth Fok
    Chairman, Hong Kong Arts Development Council
  • Betty Fung
    CEO, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority
  • Eve Tam
    Deputy Director (Culture), Leisure and Cultural Services Department
  • Wilfred Wong
    Vice Chairman, Culture Commission
1045 – 1115
  • Pavla Petrová
    Director, Arts and Theatre Institute
1045 – 1200
  • Sultan AlBazie
    CEO, The Saudi Theater and Performing Arts Commission
  • Ashraf Alfagih
    Cultural Advisor, The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra)
  • Bill Bragin
    Executive Artistic Director, The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi
  • Umberto Fanni
    Director General & Artistic Director, Royal Opera House Muscat
  • Farah Mattar
    Director General of Culture & Museums, Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities
  • Cindy Hwang (Convenor)
    Founder and President, InPulse Creatives; Music Programmer Consultant, Ithra
1045 – 1115
  • H.R.H Princess Celenhle Dlamini
    Chairperson, National Arts Council of South Africa
1115 – 1200
  • Jan Briers
    President, European Festivals Association
1115 – 1200
  • Kai Amberla
    Executive Director, Finland Festivals
  • Vigdis Jakobsdottir
    Artistic Director & CEO, Reykjavik Arts Festival
1200 – 1245
  • Geng Jun
    President, Shenzhen A.C. Orange
  • Guo Wenpeng
    Deputy Secretary, Executive Director & General Manager, Poly Culture Group Corporation Limited
  • Li Jinsheng
    President, China Arts and Entertainment Group Limited
1200 – 1245
  • Roy Luxford
    Creative Director, Edinburgh International Festival
  • John McGrath
    Artistic Director & Chief Executive, Factory International
1200 – 1245
  • Rebecca Kezia
    Co-Initiator, Indonesia Producers Network of Performing Arts
  • Sasapin Siriwanij
    Artistic Director, Bangkok International Performing Arts Meeting (BIPAM)
  • Trà Nguyễn Bich
    Founder, The Run
  • Sokhorn Yon
    Programme Director, Cambodian Living Arts
  • E-Jan Tan (Moderator)
    Founder and Director, In Situ
1200 – 1245
  • Katherine Connor
    Executive Director, PAC Australia
  • John Kotzas
    Chief Executive, Queensland Performing Arts Centre
  • Annette Shun Wah
    Artistic Director, OzAsia Festival (2020-2023)
  • Douglas Gautier AM (Moderator)
    Chairman, Association of Asia Pacific Performing Arts Centres; CEO and Artistic Director, Adelaide Festival Centre

Remarks

  • Simultaneous interpretation is available in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
  • Holders of the HKPAX Full Pass, Day Pass and Student Pass can access all sessions of Conversations. Spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Online pre-registration is required.