In March this year, the charity art workshop Art Weaves Dreams, Kindness Lights the Way — curated by The Choi Centre Cloud House and hosted by HKJC Shenzhen Centre successfully. This event brought about a beautiful rendezvous of art and public welfare, alongside a wonderful dialogue between traditional intangible cultural heritage and modern creativity. Let us look back on those heartwarming moments together.

The Choi Centre Cloud House and HKJC Shenzhen Centre welcomed a special group of "young artists" — children hailing from Lufeng Jiaoyuan Primary School. With innocent smiles and a keen curiosity for art, the kids embarked on a distinctive artistic exploration journey alongside member families.

Contemporary artist Miao Miao guided participants in free creation through color painting and collage. The children’s boundless imagination infused every artwork with vivid stories. Meanwhile, the interactive experience of Lufeng shadow play brought this traditional intangible cultural heritage to life. Amid shifting light and shadow, the children not only immersed themselves in the charm of traditional culture, but also endowed it with brand-new expressions through modern creative approaches.

Art is not merely an enjoyment of beauty, but also a carrier for passing on love. During the event, the children made their own thank-you cards and captured their heartfelt emotions with paintbrushes. These artworks embodied their passion for art and encapsulated the goodwill of each participant.

As the organiser of this workshop, The Choi Centre Cloud House has long held the belief that art can serve as a bridge for public welfare. Through interactive experiences, we weren't only exposed children to diverse forms of artistic expression, but also turnrf public welfare into a warm, constant companionship.

The specially curated charity art forum brought the in-depth exchanges to a climax. The Choi Centre Cloud House gathered industry leaders including artists, collectors and art museum directors, alongside specialists and professors from the public welfare sector, for a cross-disciplinary dialogue themed “The Social Power of Art”. Covering the living inheritance of intangible cultural heritage, innovations in contemporary art, co-construction of community culture and care for vulnerable groups, the guests explored two core questions through abundant real-world cases: How can art become more inclusive? How can cultural initiatives advance social integration?

Attendees shared a wide array of innovative practical cases. Contemporary artist Miao Miao recounted the delightful creative stories of children from the workshop, vividly illustrating the inclusive philosophy that “Everyone is an artist”. A representative from UNESCO analyzed viable pathways for the sustainable development of art-based charity programs from a political perspective. The HAMO project, a collaboration between the Jonathan KS Choi Foundation and the Palais de Tokyo, serves as an exemplary model of inclusive contemporary art: it builds a bridge for autistic children to express their emotions through artistic creation.

This long-week event drew to a highly successful conclusion. Marking the first in-depth collaboration between The Choi Centre Cloud House and HKJC Shenzhen Centre, the initiative not only demonstrated art’s boundless potential to ignite creativity, but also allowed us to tangibly experience the unique warmth that public welfare brought to artistic practice. Furthermore, we will uphold our mission of connecting people through culture, and curate more meaningful art and public welfare programs with dedication.

Image courtesy of Choi Centre · Cloud House