HONG KONG AMBASSADORS OF DESIGN LAUNCHES DESIGN TRUST
20. 5. 2014
DESIGN TRUST
A NEW INITIATIVE THAT SUPPORTS TALENT LOCALLY AND BEYOND
May 2014, Hong Kong – Alan Lo, chairman of the Hong Kong Ambassadors of Design (HKAoD) is pleased to announce the establishment of Design Trust. A new initiative by the registered non-profit celebrating its 8th anniversary this year, the Design Trust has been created as a grant-making entity to fund projects that advocate the positive value of the processes of design, debate and creative sharing.
Design Trust aims to serve as a dynamic platform that promotes creativity at the confluence of public education and the creative industries. It will do so by providing flexible and responsive funding for projects that promote design talent, research initiatives and content related to Hong Kong and the Greater Pearl River Delta Region (GPRD). Two types of grants have been established by the Design Trust -- Fellowship Grants in partnership with world-renowned institutions and Cultural Project Grants.
“We founded the Ambassadors of Design eight years ago as a springboard for emerging designers to showcase their works via programmes and events such as DETOUR and the Hong Kong Designers Exchange which we created. Through the years we’ve heard from the design community of a critical need for responsive funding to kick start projects. This is the where the Design Trust comes in and how we can best position ourselves and network of trustees and patrons to provide support that is relevant to those who need it most,” says Lo.
In collaboration with the M+ museum for visual culture by Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, the Design Trust recently launched its inaugural fellowship grant, titled M+ / Design Trust Fellowship 2014-2015. This programme which is currently open for application, will support an original research project investigating issues relating to design and architecture in the Greater Pearl River Delta (GPRD) region, with the findings from the fellowship to inform future acquisitions and other programmes at M+. The fellow will receive a monthly stipend of HK$40,000 / approx. US$5,150, for the duration of the fellowship. For more information, visit:
http://www.westkowloon.hk/en/newsroom/news/m-design-trust-fellowship-20142015/page/1.
In its second category of grants, seed grants starting at HK$10,000 will be available to individual designers, collectives and qualified non-profit organisations for projects and activities that are relevant to design, the built environment and cultural work with content engaged in the GPRD. These include but are not limited to talks, exhibitions, residencies, overseas research projects and creative installations. Once grant proposals are received via the website of the Design Trust, a panel of evaluators will be convened to review and shortlist successful proposals. Grants for cultural projects will be disbursed on a quarterly basis.
Design Trust will be launched in stages, with its website coming online by the third quarter of 2014. The current focus is fund-raising to build up its seed capital and reserves. For their first year of operations, the Trust aims to offer two fellowship grants and up to eight project grants, with a total value of over HK$850,000.
Design Trust is currently led by a steering committee (please see addendum) and once officially launched in March 2015, will be governed by a Hong Kong based Board of Directors, supported by an international Board of Trustees with Advisory Council comprising influencers and stakeholders of the industry. The Design Trust seeks the on-going support and patronage of the public, via donation pledges.
For more information, and images please contact:
Evelyn Yo,
General Manager, Hong Kong Ambassadors of Design
t: +852 27386889 | evelyn.yo@ambassadors.org.hk
Editor’s Note:
*The GPRD includes: Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Jiangmen, Dongguan, Zhongshan, parts of Huizhou (the urban district of Huizhou, Huidong County, & Boluo County), and parts of Zhaoqing (the urban district of Zhaoqing, Gaoyao, & Sihui).
About Design Trust
Design Trust is a network of individuals passionate about design and its powerful role in societal's transformation. The Trust supports creative projects that promote design talent, research initiatives and content related to Hong Kong and the Greater Pearl River Delta Region. Across a multiplicity of design disciplines from graphics, media, fashion to the built environment, the Trust aims to actively accelerate the creative design and development of meaningful projects. www.designtrust.hk
About Hong Kong Ambassadors of Design
In 2006, Hong Kong Ambassadors of Design was established as a non-profit and registered charity by a group of individuals from Hong Kong’ design community committed to capturing the creative imagination of the public. The Ambassadors works with its sister organisation, the Hong Kong Design Centre, towards the common goal of promoting design and culture and generating enthusiasm for creative ventures. www.ambassadors.hk | www.detour.hk
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