Innovation, collaboration and sustainability in community music: Two case studies of Western and Chinese tradition in Hong Kong

The tradition in Hong Kong is a ruminant of the colonial history on its Chinese origins and has deep roots in both the public reception and the governance structure in its survival. The proposed study pinpoints the sustainable growth of two different traditions: the Chinese and western in the music community, the prosperity of which is critical to the ecological growth of the music and performing arts environment in Hong Kong. The study focuses on nurturing cultural entrepreneurship through a community driven model for the growth of art forms flourished outside the established system. Through effective leadership, service subsidisation, volunteer support, incorporation of business models, best practice ventures, partnership and networking, the cultural enterprises will flourish to its full extent. With this, cultural capital and resources available could be maximised, mobilised, planned and managed strategically by stakeholders in the community. The study is based on two distinctive cases, one on Chinese Cantonese opera and one on western avant garde tradition. The findings will help to develop effective models for the sustainable development including diversity and collaboration of these two seemingly contrasting performing arts enterprises, and reveal innovative endeavours for the development of their communities in the city. The proposed study is unique of its kind and will inform interested stakeholders and policy makers with models for them to apply cost-effective strategies for the growth of the sector. The study can help community music participates to investigate ways on how to maximise the use of resources and funding. Through analysis on the case studies that are successful examples in promoting and preserving the art forms, the strategies and models involved reflect how performing artists and related stakeholders can benefit each other and able to grow healthily and in challenging ways that lead to positive competitions and continuous improvement in the performing arts area. Inspection on the prosperous growth of the dichotomies of the east and the western art forms on how it can establish a unique identity of the city will serve the community better with increased public interests and job opportunities, as well as the betterment of cultural life and economy in the city.