STANDARD CHARTERED ARTS IN THE PARK MARDI GRAS: Art Fun in Causeway Bay Over a Hundred Youths Perform Sun Dance

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1 For Immediate Release Press Release STANDARD CHARTERED ARTS IN THE PARK MARDI GRAS: Art Fun in Causeway Bay Over a Hundred Youths Perform Sun Dance 12 Feet tall Giant Puppets Sea God and Bird Man make their debut [Hong Kong, 31 October 2010] - Standard Chartered Arts in the Park Mardi Gras, the annual community outdoor arts event organized by Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation in Victoria Park, is introducing new element Art Fun in Causeway Bay this year bringing creative art to the streets of Wan Chai. Supported by the Wan Chai District Council Cultural and Leisure Services Committee, Art Fun in Causeway Bay was held today at East Point Road Pedestrian Precinct. Around 200 youths from the dance societies of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Society of Boys Centres performed a Sun Dance show in the form of flash mob dance. Two 12 feet tall giant puppets created for this year s Standard Chartered Arts in the Park Mardi Gras, Sea God and Bird Man, also made their debut in the company of stilt walkers and performers. The streets of Causeway Bay overflowed with joy as thousands of passers-by attracted to the scene. Mr. Stephen Yau How-bao, and Ms Yolanda Ng, Chairman and Vice Chairman of Cultural and Leisure Services Committee, Wan Chai District Council, said, Wan Chai has always been active in promoting cultural, arts and sports development in the district. Standard Chartered Arts in the Park Mardi Gras is an annual community arts event, we hope to promote further local arts by co-organizing Art Fun in Causeway Bay to inspire our younger generation to enjoy the fun of art. We also hope the community of Wan Chai to be filled with artistic atmosphere from this arts event.

2 Standard Chartered Arts in the Park Mardi Gras 2010 will be held on 13 and 14 November 2010 (Saturday and Sunday) at the Central Lawn of Victoria Park. This year s event is inspired by the five elements of life: Earth, Air, Fire, Metal and Water. 600 students from 100 primary and secondary schools have been working with local artists to create a variety of artworks including 8 to 12 feet tall giant puppets, rod puppets, dramatic costumes, headdresses and hand-dyed silk flags, which will be presented in the form of parade during the event. There will be art stalls, performance of African Djembe music, Capoeira and choreographed dance by 60 performing youth groups non stop for the two-day event. The organizer has introduced the Sun Dance, a dance which people of all ages can join, as the theme dance for this year. The idea is to get everybody moving to enrich the rejoicing atmosphere of the event. The Sun Dance show performed at Art Fun in Causeway Bay today is a tuning up. Members of the public may log in the facebook page and online game to learn the Sun Dance. They can also make their own Sun Dance short video by uploading photos of themselves and their family dressed up as the animated characters of the 5 elements Metal, Earth, Water, Fire and Air. The fun and creativity of the event will further spread through sharing the video with friends over the world. Standard Chartered Arts in the Park Mardi Gras 2010 is organized by Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation (HKYAF) and sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited. It is another event that receives the full support of Standard Chartered, apart from the Standard Chartered Marathon. In the past two years, the event has attracted a total of over 70,000 visitors. AIP page on facebook: AIP game on facebook: Enquiries about AIP events: Photo downloads: ***

3 For media enquiry: Avis Kong / Janet Chan Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited Tel: / or Fingertips Company Limited Evon Yap Tel: / / evon@fingertips.hk Susanna Mo Tel: / / susanna@fingertips.hk Photo Caption (1): Standard Chartered Arts in the Park Mardi Gras is introducing new element Art Fun in Causeway Bay this year by bringing creative art to the streets of Wan Chai. Not only over a hundred youths perform Sun Dance, Bird Man, a giant puppet created for the Arts in the Park Mardi Gras this year, also made its debut today.

4 Caption (2): Two 12 feet tall giant puppets created for this year s Standard Chartered Arts in the Park Mardi Gras, Sea God and Bird Man, made their debut today. The streets of Causeway bay were overflowed with joy as thousands of passers-by attracted to the scene. Caption (3): Around 200 youths from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Society of Boys Centres performed a Sun Dance show in the form of flash mob dance.

5 Notes to Editor: About Standard Chartered Arts in the Park Mardi Gras Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited is committed to contributing to the community that it operates, especially supporting sustainable development programmes focusing on the areas of Youth, Health, Education and the Environment. Since 2001, Standard Chartered Hong Kong has supported the HKYAF s annual community arts event Arts in the Plaza. In 2008, Arts in the Plaza was renamed Arts in the Park Mardi Gras and expanded into a whole day event emphasizing public participation. HKYAF introduced a new element to the event by adding a thematic parade creating a festive outdoor event that celebrates the vitality and diversity of the Hong Kong community. Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation is a charity that provides access to high quality, non-competitive arts experiences for all young people aged Established in 1993 by Lindsey McAlister OBE, YAF organizes inclusive and inspirational projects that reach out to young people of all cultures, backgrounds, languages and abilities and actively creates opportunities for disadvantaged and underprivileged young people. Each year we reach over 800,000 young people through our projects, exhibitions and performances. About Standard Chartered Standard Chartered leading the way in Asia, Africa and the Middle East Standard Chartered PLC is a leading international bank, listed on the London and Hong Kong stock exchanges. It has operated for over 150 years in some of the world's most dynamic markets and earns around 90 per cent of its income and profits in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. This geographic focus and commitment to developing deep relationships with clients and customers has driven the Bank s growth in recent years. With 1700 offices in 70 markets, Standard Chartered offers exciting and challenging international career opportunities for its 75,000 staff. The Bank is committed to building a sustainable business over the long term and is trusted worldwide for upholding high standards of corporate governance, social responsibility, environmental protection and employee diversity. This heritage and these values are expressed in its brand promise, Here for good.

6 The history of Standard Chartered in Hong Kong dates back to It is currently one of the SAR s three note-issuing banks. Standard Chartered incorporated its Hong Kong business on 1 July 2004, and now operates as a licensed bank in Hong Kong under the name of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Standard Chartered PLC. Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited has been named the Employer of Choice at the prestigious Hong Kong HR Awards for two consecutive years in 2008 and 2009, and by The Gallup Organisation as a winner of the Gallup Great Workplace Award for three consecutive years from 2008 to For more information on Standard Chartered, please visit ***