'Double West' brand fires up Bund, HK culture zones

Shanghai’s West Bund waterfront is to work for five years with Hong Kong’ West Kowloon cultural district on exhibitions, training and theater projects.

Representatives of the two well-known art districts signed an agreement at the Hong Kong Shanghai cooperation conference over the weekend.

The West Bund along the Huangpu River in Xuhui District and West Kowloon both contain a number of music, performance and visual arts venues. 

They plan to hold annual joint exhibitions in both Shanghai and Hong Kong and organize major contemporary art tours.

The new “Double West” brand linking the West Bund and West Kowloon and a training program will focus on exchanges between gallery and theatre managers. 

The West Kowloon Cultural District along Victoria Harbor has become a cultural landmark in Hong Kong, with its many venues. The site includes an art park and a seafront promenade.

The West Bund in Xuhui features over 20 avenues such as the Long and Yuz museums. Many were developed from old factory buildings along the Huangpu River. Over 100 cultural activities such as the West Bund music and food festivals are held on the site each year.