SCED visits Comix Home Base (with photos)

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, today (September 12) visited Comix Home Base to learn how this new creative landmark in Wan Chai helps drive the development of the local comics and animation industry.

Comix Home Base, which opened in July this year, is housed in a cluster of revitalised 10 pre-war century-old Grade 2 historic buildings on Mallory Street and Burrows Street. It comprises work studios for comic and animation artists, venues for events and exhibitions, a resource centre library that collects print and digital comic books and magazines as well as comic art-related retail stores on the ground floor.

Mr So visited the various facilities of Comix Home Base and looked at the valuable collection of classic comic books published during different eras and stored in the library.

The Executive Director of Hong Kong Arts Centre, Ms Connie Lam, briefed Mr So on the operation of Comix Home Base and the centre's long-term strategies in driving the growth of the comics and animation industry in Hong Kong. She also shared with Mr So its efforts in promoting comics and animation in the local community.

Comix Home Base regularly holds exhibitions under various themes to showcase the creativity and achievement of local comics and animation artists. Mr So toured "The Birth of a Hero - Exhibition of Ma Wing-shing's Comics Works" currently being held at the centre.

Mr So noted that the Government is committed to promoting the development of comics and animation in Hong Kong, and Comix Home Base is one of the key projects.

"Comix Home Base serves as an important exchange platform among comics and animation fans, industry key players and artists from Hong Kong and other parts of the world. It helps nurture local talent, enhances the public's understanding of the culture of comics and animation, and strengthens the development of creative industries," he said.

He said he hoped that comic artists and animators in the industry would make the best use of the facilities and space provided at Comix Home Base.

To tie in with the opening of Comix Home Base and arouse interest in comics and animation in the community, Create Hong Kong presented the Hong Kong Ani-Com Summer 2013 this summer, featuring more than 10 comics and animation-related activities and attracting more than 900 000 people.

Thursday, September 12, 2013