In anticipation of Hong Kong art month in March, we have selected eight cultural happenings that will please literature and photography lovers, theatre, ballet and classical music aficionados, as well as francophiles.

And to celebrate the International Women’s Day on 8 March, enjoy Niki de Saint Phalle’s exhibition!

SELECTION OF EVENTS

HK PHIL × HKU MUSE: POULENC GLORIA

Led by French conductor Chloé Dufresne, the orchestra and combined chorus will perform Haydn’s second setting of Te Deum, followed by Anthony Au’s Hark! The Midnight Bell Echoes. Baritone Caleb Woo will join in as soloist in Vaughan Williams’ pious Five Mystical Songs, while Dani Zhang Jingdan will deliver the ethereal soprano solos in Poulenc’s idiosyncratic setting of Gloria.

23 & 24 March – The University of Hong Kong, HKU – Details here

HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL 2024

The Hong Kong International Literary Festival will bring emerging and established writers to the city to share their love of storytelling. The Young Readers Festival schools programme will run concurrently, ensuring a fantastic time for bookworms of all ages.

4 – 10 March – Various locations – Details here

WESTK FUNFEST

The inaugural WestK FunFest will feature locally and internationally renowned artists and present more than 150 diverse art programmes, ranging from participatory performances, interactive experiences, multi-media performances to hands-on workshops, mega art installation, play zone, storytelling and dance parties.

16 March – 7 April – West Kowloon Cultural District – Details here

HAMLET

One of the highlights of No Limits 2024, the play is a bold reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic work, told by and for those who struggle to be accepted. Sharing their desires and frustrations, a group of young people with Down syndrome will take the stage with this freely adapted version of Hamlet.

8 – 10 March – Kwai Tsing Theatre – Details here

SHANGHAI BALLET – A SIGH OF LOVE

Choreographed by acclaimed French choreographer Bertrand d’At (1957-2014), A Sigh of Love is an original modern ballet production by the Shanghai Ballet telling a melancholic tale of love, passion, longing and regret, set against the tumultuous backdrop of mid-20th century Shanghai. The performance will be the grand finale of this year’s Hong Kong Arts Festival.

22 & 23 March – Hong Kong Cultural Centre – Details here

NIKI DE SAINT PHALLE: GARDEN OF JOY

Experience Niki de Saint Phalle’s imaginative world with these twenty works created between 1970 and 2000. To know more about the French American artist known for her monumental sculptures and her dedication to women empowerment, read our special feature: Niki de Saint Phalle, Larger Than Life

8 March – 6 April – Opera Gallery – Details here 

NOIR & BLANC: A STORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Co-presented by M+ and French May Arts Festival, in collaboration with the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF), this exhibition marks the first M+ exhibition dedicated to photography. It includes more than 250 significant photographs from BnF’s world-renowned collection, complemented by over thirty works drawn from the M+ Collections, examining black-and-white photography.

16 March – 30 June – M+ – Details here 

FRANCOPHONIE FESTIVAL 2024

The festival will bring music shows, conferences, film screenings, contests, French theatre, cooking workshops. This year, part of the events will be dedicated to the sports values and Olympism, since Paris will host the Olympic Games in Summer 2024.

March – Various locations – Details here