Mission

The International Association of Art Critics Hong Kong (AICAHK) comprises of art critics living in Hong Kong who have actively published about art and/or participated in radio or television programmes on a regular basis.

The objectives of the Association are:

• to promote art criticism as a discipline and contribute to its methodology
• to protect the freedom of critical expression and the ethical and professional interests of art critics, and co-operate in defending their rights
• to maintain an active international network for Members, with the aid of available technologies and encouragement of face-to-face encounters
• to contribute to the mutual understanding of visual arts and aesthetics in all cultures
• to stimulate professional relationships across political, geographical, ethnic, economic and religious boundaries
• to defend impartially, freedom of expression and thought, and oppose arbitrary censorship
• to facilitate exchange of information in the field of the arts

Background

The International Association of Art Critics, Hong Kong was established in 1996 as the local branch of the International Association of Art Critics (AICA).

AICA is a NGO, founded in 1950 under the patronage of UNESCO, whose objective it is to support art criticism in all its forms, worldwide and to keep pace with its changing disciplines. With its Headquarters in Paris, AICA represents and promotes the activities of the Association’s 4,200 members, grouped into 64 different Sections, throughout the world.

AICAHK is composed of art critics, professors, curators and art professionals active in Hong Kong to enhance artistic and intellectual awareness in Hong Kong and develop international co-operation in the fields of cultural development.

AICAHK Art Focus

Hong Kong's artscene covers a variety of artist-run spaces, commercial galleries, public museums; and, exhibitions in shopping centres and temporary spaces in locations ranging from Fo Tan in the New Territories to Chai Wan at the western end of Hong Kong Island and covering the traditional arts viewing areas of Central, Sheung Wan and Wan Chai.

AICAHK has expanded the Art Focus section of this website to include recent art reviews, articles and blogs about the current Hong Kong artscene - moderated by our website editors. Contributions and comments from the wider public are welcome and can be made by email at: info@aicahk.org.

Committee

Membership

I. AICA Full Membership:

AICA Full Membership is open to critics who have been writing in the field of contemporary art at a high level. To be eligible, candidates must produce evidence of sustained activity over the previous three years, in one or more of the following areas:

- daily/periodical press, or broadcasting on radio, TV or video, or in the electronic media
- publication of works of art history, aesthetics or criticism
- teaching of art criticism, art history, aesthetics, curating, or art, at higher or tertiary level
- curatorial work and analysis for educational or scholarly ends, including the production of scholarly or critical texts for museums or galleries, whose principal aim is not essentially commercial

This documentation must also be accompanied by a resume. Candidates are elected by a ballot of the Association's members. Successful nominees will be entitled to vote at and participate in international meetings, as well as being given access to the AICA website and the AICA International membership card.

Download Full Member application form



II. AICAHK Associate Membership:

AICAHK Associate (non-voting) Membership is also by application; no proof of active involvement in art writing activities is required.

Download Associate Member application form