34th SIBMAS Conference
Celebrating the Historic First SIBMAS Conference in Asia: A Landmark Event in Hong Kong. June 2024.
The 34th SIBMAS Conference, titled Dramaturgies of Collecting: Conserving, Restaging, and Interpreting the Performing Arts, marked a significant milestone as the first SIBMAS event to take place in Asia. Hosted by the International Association of Theatre Critics (Hong Kong) in collaboration with the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Library, and supported by the Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme, this historic gathering attracted over 200 delegates from more than 20 countries and regions, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, the United States, and beyond.
The conference was a hybrid event, offering both on-site and online participation. Attendees engaged in a rich program featuring over 20 sessions and activities. The event commenced at the iconic Tea House Theatre in the West Kowloon Cultural District, where delegates were treated to the Tea House Theatre Experience, a performance by the Tea House Rising Stars Troupe. Guests enjoyed not only the vibrant Cantonese opera performance but also a delightful selection of dim sum, and hot tea thus fully immersing themselves in the local culture.
CUHK’s modern conference centre, located near the main campus, served as the perfect venue for this intellectual gathering. The official opening ceremony was held at the Henry Cheng International Conference Centre, where delegates were inspired by four keynote speeches and six thematic talks. The conference also included parallel sessions featuring 40 paper presentations, which offered a wide range of perspectives on the performing arts. In addition to the academic discussions, participants had the opportunity to visit performing arts landmarks such as the Chung Ying (Chinese British) Theatre Company Archive and the Hong Kong Heritage Museum to name just two events.
The conference’s success was further elevated by the good coordination and logistical arrangements that allowed for an engaging and smooth experience for all attendees. The collaboration between the various organising partners enriched the conference, broadening its scope and fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas.
One recurring theme throughout the conference was the notion of Hong Kong as a place “where East meets West.” As Hong Kong positions itself as a gateway not only to neighbouring China but to all of Asia, SIBMAS seized the opportunity to extend its traditionally Europe-focused work to this region, embracing Asia’s dynamic contemporary and rich traditional performance cultures.
The conference was a resounding success, with both long-standing members and new participants joining the SIBMAS community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Hong Kong for hosting such a memorable event, and we eagerly look forward to the next gathering!