SCMP: Talkback The E-mail Forum

SCMP: Talkback The E-mail Forum

1 July 2009

I am a member of The Fringe Club and have organised both literary and musical events there.

The Fringe is a private not-for-profit organisation that seeks to promote the arts. The food and beverage element of the club is, I feel, an enhancement to the multi-use format of the diverse spaces within. It also generates income, without which it would be obliged to charge commercial rates for venue-hire, or operate a stringent selection policy to ensure the financial viability of participating artists.

It is to the Fringe's credit that it does neither and has thus been a vital resource for emerging talent that might struggle to get an airing elsewhere.

The intimate studios are an ideal size for experimental theatre, poetry readings and traditional arts activities and are well utilised by the entire artistic community. I believe that the renovations, (notification was given many months ago to all concerned) are required under fire-safety regulations. The club will have to close for some considerable time and will suffer the loss of a non-trivial amount of space.

I agree that the government should nurture pottery and all other art-forms. I hope that the new cultural hub will incorporate facilities that are accessible by fringe and mainstream groups alike.

The Fringe should be commended for providing a home for The Pottery Workshop for so many years, however through no fault of its own, circumstances have changed and it requires the space for the benefit of the whole artistic community.

David McKirdy, Sai Kung

回應信報有關藝穗會的報道

Published on Fri, 10 July 2009

回應信報有關藝穗會的報道

得閱《信報》7月8日有關藝穗會的報道，心裏有話但覺不吐不快。在香港要辦個小藝團、藝社實在艱難是眾所周知的，有藝穗會這個可以以廉價（甚至提供免租場地給新進藝術家）實現藝術理念、理想的地方夫復何求？自己的夢想成真變得有能力，是否應讓出資源好等後來者也可實踐一下創作的構思？

筆者兩年前為了推動印度古典舞，走了很崎嶇的路；首先，我們的城市只知Bollywood 不知有如中國戲曲般嚴格的婆羅多舞，在開展時真不知如何是好；再者經費不足，也不會拿到那兒的資助。幸而叩上了藝穗會的門，遂得以在那小劇場演出，在排練室辦了工作坊和參予了一些文化表演。現在總算開始了，雖然香港其實並無印度古典舞的市場和成熟的觀眾群；但仍為可以一試而高興，這份經歷際遇亦滋潤了我們一夥的靈魂、啟迪了愛好者的思維，原來可以如此處理印度古典舞。

所接觸的藝穗會工作人員也都充滿熱誠，協助我等藝工初哥不遺餘力，反之我們只回報以微薄的收入和無數的麻煩。連一些小小不知名的藝團也如斯照顧，看不到藝穗會會違背其推動藝術的宗旨。

認識一些玩音樂打band的朋友，他們夢寐以求的就是在藝穗會小酒吧演出，因為相信只有在Fringe才可以玩自己的東西，別處總是限制多多、商業掛帥。

也知道藝穗會二十多年來也在支持那個不賺錢的藝穗默劇實驗室，提供場地和氛圍孕育了不少出色的團員。而藝穗默劇實驗室仍在不懈地繼續執著下去，實驗、探索，尋找一套有東方色彩的默劇模式和培育新人。去年參加了首爾藝穗節，今年更應邀參與《韓國春川國際默劇節》、澳門及台灣的藝穗節。若然沒有藝穗會的支持，豈能如此。

說了這樣多，筆者無意亦無資格去批評別人的看法和立場，只是因為一份公義，在此多提一個角度和看法。我亦相信有限的資源應用於最貧乏的一群，變大變強的更該為後來者想一想。

小紅帽