The annual Garden Party of the Friends of the Art Museum (the Friends) of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) was held on 7 November at the Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge of CUHK. Close to 100 members of the Friends, as well as faculty members and students of the Department of Fine Arts of CUHK participated in this meaningful occasion. Mrs Sagiri Dayal, new Chair of the Friends; Mrs Martin Tang, sponsor of the Madeleine Tang Friends Research and Education Fund Awards; Professor Joseph Sung, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK; and Mrs Rebecca Sung presented certificates to the award recipients.
In his welcoming address, Professor Joseph Sung extended his heartfelt gratitude for the staunch support the University has received from the Friends over the past decades. “We look forward to partnering closely with the Friends to support the development of CUHK and the Art Museum, and more importantly to create valuable opportunities for our students to showcase their talents,” said Professor Sung.
Over the years, the Friends is committed to supporting art education by generously offering scholarships to outstanding Fine Arts students. This year, 12 students have been selected to receive these prestigious awards. To express their gratitude to the Friends, the award recipients presented a special art book, which features works of all recipients, to the Friends on the occasion. Mrs Dayal stated in her speech that she is amazed by the excellent quality of artworks of our Fine Arts students. She added that the Friends will continue to support talented students, and collaborate with CUHK to nurture more young artists with exceptional talents and passion in Fine Arts.
In parallel with the first solo art exhibition tour of Professor Charles Kao, the Charles K Kao Foundation for Alzheimer’s Disease was invited to display several pieces of Professor Kao’s recent works on the occasion for charity auction and sales. Proceeds will be used to support the Foundation and increase the public awareness of Alzheimer’s diseases. The event was graced by the presence of Mrs Gwen Kao, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation. Mrs Kao explained to the guests the effectiveness of art therapy in benefiting patients with Alzheimer’s diseases and their family members.