Media

According to figures from the Education Bureau, the proportion of students with special educational needs (SEN) in mainstream schools has been on the rise in recent years. Compared with ordinary students, students with SEN require extra attention to be understood and listened to. In response to such increasing need, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has funded a three-year Jockey Club Expressive Arts Programme for Children, organised by The Sovereign Art Foundation and the Centre on Behavioral Health at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). Launched in 2017, this expressive arts-based programme comprises two components: 1) the Make-It-Better (MIB) programme for students with SEN in primary schools and community centres, and; 2) the Train-the-Trainer (TTT) programme for primary teachers and social workers. The programme also aims to raise public awareness of the use of expressive arts through various community and school-based activities.

The Expressive Arts Approach in education is the adaptation of various art modalities and arts creation attitudes originated from Expressive Arts Therapy. Coupled with standard teaching methodology, this approach can promote effective communication between teachers and students to create a positive, creative, and enjoyable learning environment in class. The ultimate goal of the programme is to assist children with SEN to integrate into mainstream classrooms and community centres through enhancing their communication skills, as well as improving teachers’ effectiveness of communication, teaching, and planning learning activities.

An online media briefing will be held on January 30 (Saturday) by the Sovereign Art Foundation team to introduce the innovative expressive arts-based project. The research team from the Centre on Behavioral Health will release research findings of the study. Programme facilitators of the programme will share their experience and examples of good practices. The guest speakers will also discuss the future direction of expressive arts in Hong Kong education based on the study results.

Members of the media are cordially invited to cover the event with details as below:

Date: 30 January 2021 (Saturday)
Time: 10am to 1pm 
Language: Cantonese and English

For more details about the programme, please contact Ms. Amy Choi (Centre on Behavioral Health, HKU; Tel: 2831 5163; email: amychoi@hku.hk) or Ms. Joyce Fong (Centre on Behavioral Health, HKU; Tel: 2831 5579; email: joycefcy@hku.hk).
For media enquiries, please contact Ms. Melanie Wan (Manager (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office, HKU; Tel: 2859 2600; email: melwkwan@hku.hk) or Beth Corner (The Sovereign Art Foundation; Tel: 2542 1177; email: beth@sovereignartfoundation.com).