Director of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

Director of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (The Academy) is conducting a worldwide search for a successor to the present Director, Professor Gillian Choa, who will step down in December 2024. The Academy now invites applications/nominations for the position of Director of the Academy.

The Academy: The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (www.hkapa.edu), established by The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Ordinance in 1984, is a leading tertiary institution in the performing arts in Asia. In the QS University Rankings announced in 2024, the Academy ranks 1st in Asia and 28th worldwide in the Performing Arts category. The Academy recently published its 2024-2033 Strategic Plan: Aiming for New Heights : https://www.hkapa.edu/f/publication/67211/HKAPA_Strategic_Plan_EN_20240926.pdf.

The Academy provides professional undergraduate education and practice-based postgraduate studies. The Academy's six Schools: Chinese Opera, Dance, Drama, Film & Television, Music, and Theatre & Entertainment Arts create a vibrant centre of practice, production, teaching and practice-as-research. Its outstanding reputation is reinforced by the quality of its performers and its partnerships with other centres of excellence locally, regionally, and internationally. With international residencies, visiting artists and alumni, including some of the most respected professionals in their disciplines, the Academy is committed to the training of future world-class performers and practitioners.

Located in a city renowned for its international outlook and connectivity, the Academy plays a unique and influential role in developing future generations of performing artists that include performers, practitioners, designers, and technicians. The Academy has more than 500 academic staff and 300 administrative staff. Every year, it enrols over 900 students for its full-time programmes and over 1,000 students for its Applied Learning Programme, Gifted Young Dancer Programme, Junior Music Programme and Fast Track Intensive Training Programme. Furthermore, its extensive EXCEL (Extension and Continuing Education for Life) programme offers part-time personal enrichment courses and in-service professional training to nearly 2,000 students each year.

The Director: As Chief Executive Officer of the Academy, the Director is responsible to the Council for the leadership and management of the Academy. The Director is responsible for providing strong leadership to sustain and enhance the development of the Academy at this juncture of growth and transformation. The Director will share the Academy’s vision and possess the necessary intellectual qualities inclusive of a strong commitment to lead the Academy in its pursuit of academic and artistic excellence and taking it to new heights.

Candidate Profile: The Council seeks to appoint a visionary and inspirational leader who will build upon the existing strengths of the Academy and provide leadership to guide its future course. S/He is expected to have demonstrated leadership experience in tertiary institution, arts institution, or major organization related to performing arts and have a high level of knowledge and credibility in performing arts. S/He should have excellent international, regional and local networks with performing arts educational institutions and cultural organizations, business, professional and public sectors.

Applications and Nominations: Applications and nominations should be sent in strict confidence to Heidrick & Struggles via email: hkapa_director@heidrick.com. Review of applications/nominations will begin from October 2024 until the position is filled.

The Personal Information Collection Statement will be provided upon request. All enquiries, applications and nominations will be treated in strict confidence.