Quality of Hong Kong's theater productions will be compromised if the shortage of performing arts talents is not addressed, the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts (HKAPA) said.

The academy will increase the intake of its foundation year and launch an intensive training program to fulfill the needs of the industry, its director Kevin Thompson said.

Figures provided by the academy revealed that 680 production staff will be needed in Hong Kong, Macao and the Pearl River Delta region over the next few years. The number will increase to 1,050 in the longer term.

John Williams, dean of the academy's School of Theatre and Entertainment Arts, expected the demand for production staff in Hong Kong to increase as there will be more performing venues opening over the next five to 10 years, including the West Kowloon Cultural District.

Williams added the gap was owing to a brain drain in the performing arts sector in the city.

A junior arts venue manager can make 30 percent more money working outside Hong Kong, he added.

In addition, some local talents are attracted by the booming entertainment industry and variety of shows in Macao.

Hong Kong talents are popular in other cities as they are well-trained in different forms of performing arts and trilingual.

Williams said the shortage of talents will inevitably affect production quality.

In Hong Kong, performing artists only perform in Disneyland and Ocean Park where they have proper production management. But even then, it is not on a regular basis.

However, Thompson said competition from Macao will help improve the quality of performing arts in Hong Kong.

He added that Hong Kong should produce more quality programs to attract talents.

The academy is currently having a discussion with the University of Hong Kong about jointly launching a master of business administration program with a focus on arts leadership, Thompson said.

The academy will also launch a fast-track program giving intensive training to 36 students in production techniques and management.

It will also admit 30 more foundation year students annually starting this September.

(HK Edition 05/14/2008 page1)