Hypefest to make Hong Kong debut in November, with electronic music duo Justice to headline Cultural festival Hypefest will make its Hong Kong debut in November, with the latest iteration of the event funded by local authorities as part of efforts to bolster the economy, boost tourism and promote the city as a regional arts hub. Organisers said on Wednesday that the festival at the Central harbourfront on November 9 and 10 was expected to attract 30,000 guests, with visitors accounting for a third of them. The government has set aside HK$15 million (US$1.9 million) for the event as part of its Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund. Kevin Ma, founder and CEO of festival organiser Hypebeast, said: “We’re excited to bring Hypefest to Hong Kong, the city where our headquarters are based. As a significant international hub for arts and culture, we want to create an unforgettable experience for our local community.” Hypefest is among a slew of major events planned for the last quarter of the year, including the Wine and Dine Festival and the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open, as part of efforts to boost tourism and the city’s sluggish economy. Hypefest will be headlined by the Grammy-winning French electronic music duo Justice who will make their “highly anticipated return” after an eight-year hiatus, while American singer-songwriter d4vd is also set to perform. Local band N.Y.P.D, South Korean singer-songwriter Dean and Thai rapper Milli, who performed at the 2022 Coachella Festival in California, are among others in the line-up. The festival would also offer limited-time branded pop-ups with exclusive product showcases, art installations and a food village, alongside interactive carnival game booths where attendees could win exclusive branded merchandise, organisers said. A Hypebeast spokeswoman said the festival aimed to boost tourism and cement Hong Kong’s status as a premier travel destination, adding that similar events had “consistently demonstrated a positive economic impact” in sectors such as accommodation and dining. She added that the festival also served as a platform for cultural exchange and community engagement through its offerings, which could bring “long-term benefits for Hong Kong’s economy and global appeal”. Standard one-day tickets will cost HK$680 and HK$988 for the weekend, but booking details have yet to be announced. Early-bird tickets can be bought on online platform Klook from Friday noon for HK$788 for a two-day pass. The inaugural Hypefest took place in Brooklyn, New York in 2018, with the event being free of charge and featuring rapper Trippie Redd and rock band No Vacancy, as well as offering apparel brands such as Aape and Puma. The second and third editions were held in mainland China, with last year’s event taking place in Qinhuangdao and drawing 15,000 visitors. Another iteration was held in Hangzhou earlier this year and attracted 30,000 revellers. Tickets for the two-day Qinhuangdao event cost between 288 and 700 yuan, while entry fees for the Hangzhou festival ranged from 318 to 808 yuan. Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu unveiled the HK$1.4 billion Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund in his 2022 policy address as part of efforts to bring major international events to the city and reestablish its status as a premier travel destination. Other events backed by the fund include contemporary art fairs Art Basel and Art021. The government recently expressed confidence the city could meet its economic growth forecast of between 2.5 per cent and 3.5 per cent for 2024, following moderate growth of 3.3 per cent year on year in the second quarter. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3278144/hypefest-make-hong-kong-debut-november-electronic-music-duo-justice-headline (ICE HONG KONG)

Fonte notizia: South China Morning Post