Hashtag
Men's Weekly

Breaking Boundaries with the AFTEC Jockey Club Creative Futures Project

Leading Educational Experts Convene at Knowledge Exchange Festival 2025 Navigating Collective Creative Futures through Arts Education

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 24 May 2025 - To foster greater understanding and facilitate dialogue on creative teaching and learning among stakeholders in education and the arts, AFTEC, with funding from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, presents the Knowledge Exchange Festival on 23 – 24 May 2025 at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum.

This two-day festival, themed Navigating Collective Creative Futures, is a flagship annual festival of the AFTEC Jockey Club Creative Futures Project. It has attracted over 500 representatives from educational and arts communities to explore the pivotal role of creativity and creative thinking in talent development and industry innovation.

The Festival features distinguished guest speakers from overseas and Hong Kong, including Professor Anne Bamford OBE, Director of the International Research Agency and globally celebrated arts education researcher; Ms May Tan, Director (Education & Development), National Arts Council, Singapore; and Mr Irgel Enkhsaikhan and Mr Louis Schulz from Assemble Studio, the renowned London-based architecture and design collective and winner of the 2015 Turner Prize. These experts shared insights from the UK and Singapore, exploring how creative thinking shapes career development in the arts and beyond, and fuels cross-sector collaboration and innovation.

Two key panel discussions delved into pertinent topics. The first discussion, Beyond Teaching: Artists' Creative Index, assessed the current professional landscape and future career pathways for arts educators in Hong Kong. The second panel, Nurturing Creative Talent: Creative Industries+, will provide insights into how different creative industries and medical sector utilise creative thinking to nurture talent and drive industry growth. Additionally, two interactive sessions will be held. Participants engaged in a children's book illustration workshop, Into the Uncut Grass: The Role of Illustrations in Children's Books, facilitated by illustrators, educators, and publishers. Another session, Fascinating!, a playful hat-making workshop led by Assemble Studio, offered attendees hands-on experiences in cross-sector creative practices.

Remarkable Project Impact, Pioneering Educational Frontiers

Ms Lynn Yau, Chief Executive Officer of AFTEC and Project Director of the AFTEC Jockey Club Creative Futures Project, said, "The value of the arts is often diminished by the pursuit of standardised answers. AFTEC is dedicated to promoting asset-based learning to eliminate the fear of being wrong. When teachers overly emphasise rigid curriculum frameworks and suppress creativity, students become reluctant to voice their thoughts, trapping classrooms in a cycle that focuses on deficits rather than potential. The key to transformation lies in education shifting from 'compensating for weaknesses' to 'developing strengths.' We do not need to hide weaknesses — instead, we empower everyone to leverage their unique qualities."

Building on the success of an earlier pilot initiative, the AFTEC Jockey Club Creative Futures Project is a multi-level creative learning programme designed to build a robust community of arts educators. Participants employ interdisciplinary practical teaching strategies based on the 5Cs—Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Contribution—to co-design curriculum content. Through interactive, arts-based cross-disciplinary learning methods, creative practitioners collaborate with teachers to bridge traditional and creative classroom teaching, enhancing students' creativity and learning autonomy. On the second day of the Festival, the Project will announce the 12 schools selected as Creative Schools, which will implement arts-based interdisciplinary creative learning from 2025 to 2028.

Sports and Culture is one of the priority funding areas for the Club's Charities Trust. Ms Winnie Yip, Head of Charities (Culture, Sports and Community Engagement), The Hong Kong Jockey Club, highlighted in her opening speech that, "AFTEC truly prioritises students' needs. The innovative launch of the AFTEC Jockey Club Creative Futures Project brings fresh energy to Hong Kong's traditional education model."

For further information about the AFTEC Jockey Club Creative Futures Project, please visit https://creativefutures.aftec.hk/home-en/.

Fostering Cross-border Exchange, Accelerating Creative Arts Education

To enhance cross-border collaboration in arts education, two other special sessions were held during the same week. The Hong Kong-Mainland Creative Learning Cultural Exchange 2025 brought together 34 distinguished educational professionals and arts educators from various provinces and cities in the Mainland alongside Hong Kong school representatives from the AFTEC Jockey Club Creative Futures Project. Under the theme "Integrating Arts and Education," participants engaged in meaningful discussions, sharing experiences and exploring the transformative power of arts education.

Another session, Capturing Asian Conceptions of Creative Thinking, chaired by Professor Anne Bamford OBE, aimed to investigate how creative thinking is defined, prioritised, and nurtured in various Asian cities, highlighting cultural similarities and differences. Hong Kong served as the starting point for this research initiative, which will subsequently expand to other Asian cities. The session was attended by experts from the AFTEC Jockey Club Creative Futures Project.By bringing together stakeholders from the business sectors, creative industries, cultural and educational institutions, arts and creative practitioners, as well as stakeholders from medicine, social innovation, and entrepreneurship, the project seeks to comprehensively examine diverse interpretations and practices of creative thinking across cultures. Research findings will be shared with UNESCO and the OECD.

Hashtag: #AFTEC

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About AFTEC

Advancing creative learning and arts education in Hong Kong

Creativity allows us to recognise potential within ourselves and the world around us. It promotes problem-solving, nurtures relationships, cultivates resilience, and can transform lives in countless ways. At AFTEC, we work with students, educators, and creative practitioners to plant the seeds of creativity in our community.

As a proudly homegrown Hong Kong organisation, we nurture the city's greatest natural resource — its people. Through co-designed, collaborative, and inclusive bilingual education programmes, we create supportive environments where young minds are free to explore, express, and flourish. We spark imagination, build confidence, and foster a sense of growth and belonging together.

Business News

Highbrow Unveils Its New Beauty Salon at The Adelphi

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 27 June 2025 - HighBrow, one of Singapore’s most trusted names in brow, lash, and nail care, is thrilled to announce the launch of its new beauty salon at The Ad...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

Cyberport 5 as Hong Kong's New I&T Landmark

Driving Emerging Strategic Industries Development Heralding a New Chapter in Integration of I&T and the Community HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 27 June 2025 - The Cyberport 5 b...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

VinFast signs dealer financing cooperation agreement with BCA

JAKARTA, INDONESIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 27 June 2025 - VinFast has officially entered into a pivotal financial partnership with PT Bank Central Asia Tbk. (BCA), one of Indonesia's leading priv...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

Food Expo PRO and Hong Kong International Tea Fair Return in August with New Coffee Zone and Expanded Halal Sector

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 27 June 2025 - Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Food Expo PRO and Hong Kong International Tea Fair will be staged concurrent...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

Food Expo PRO and Hong Kong International Tea Fair: One-Stop F&B Platform Returns in August

Spotlighting Food Science & Tech HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 27 June 2025 - Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Food Expo PRO and Hong Kong Internation...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

The best CFD broker 2025': Octa receives yet another award

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 27 June 2025 - Octa, a globally regulated and trusted broker since 2011, was recently named 'The best CFD broker 2025' by the AllForexRating.com po...

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

Health & Wellness

Telehealth Could be the Catalyst for Better Heart Health in Australia

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

Image by stockking on Freepik Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in Australia despite decades of advancements in medicine and health education campaigns. More than 400 Australians ...

Disability Care in Melbourne: What Families Need to Know in 2025

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

If you’re supporting a loved one with a disability in Melbourne, you’ll know how important it is to find the right care—and how overwhelming it can be to navigate the system. With the National Disab...

Online Medical Certificate Services: Essential Features to Look Out For

Hashtag.net.au - avatar Hashtag.net.au

"Discover top online medical certificate services! Essential features to look for to get trusted and efficient results." Choosing high-quality services is essential for ensuring reliable, efficient, ...