"Looking at the big cities like New York, London and Paris, they all have iconic performing arts centers. WKCD will open a new chapter for Hong Kong as a global and regional leader in the performing arts, being a catalyst for creating, producing, learning, performing and celebrating all forms of performing arts," says Alison M. Friedman, who is the artistic director of performing arts at WKCD.

Having lived in Beijing for the past 15 years, Friedman moved to Hong Kong to join the cultural hub team in November.

As construction of the major venues moves closer to completion, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority has started playing an active role in developing Hong Kong's arts and cultural industries, nurturing local talent and the growing audience to further strengthen Hong Kong's position as a burgeoning hub for the arts and culture.

Yu says that WKCD will establish a vibrant new cultural quarter stretching across 40 hectares of reclaimed land on a harbor-front site in the heart of Hong Kong.

After the opening of the Xiqu Center, the next major venue to open will be Freespace in 2019, a place where the public will be invited to explore, encounter and be inspired by new artistic experiences through innovative programs of different genres. The Freespace building will provide flexible performance spaces, including a black-box theater for audiences of up to 900, a multipurpose function hall and facilities for small-scale live music events. The building of M+, Hong Kong's new museum for visual culture, is also expected to be completed in 2019.

In 2016, WKCD expanded its global network by joining the Silk Road International League of Theaters. The network serves as a platform for the performing arts and aims to promote cultural exchanges between China and other countries. A total of 86 theaters from 32 countries and regions have joined the league.

Contact the writer at chennan@chinadaily.com.cn