Intangible Cultural Heritage Funding Scheme

Background

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government attaches great importance to the safeguarding of Hong Kong's intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and strives to raise the Hong Kong community's awareness of the importance of ICH and the need to protect such heritage as our cultural assets. To further promote the safeguarding of ICH, the HKSAR Government approved a funding of HK$300 million in late 2018 for launching the ICH Funding Scheme to engage the community and to strengthen various aspects of work in safeguarding the ICH items of Hong Kong. The ICH Funding Scheme is implemented and managed by the ICH Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). The Intangible Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee and the Sub-committee on ICH Funding Scheme have been consulted before formulating the scope and details of support.

The ICH Funding Scheme comprises the "Community-driven Projects" and the "Partnership Projects". The LCSD welcomes eligible local organisations and individuals to propose meaningful "Community-driven Projects", and provides funding to support the community in implementing and participating in activities or programmes related to ICH. The LCSD also invites eligible local organisations and individuals to apply for the "Partnership Projects", and to collaborate with the ICH Office to implement projects with specific themes and scopes, so as to strengthen the safeguarding of local ICH.

Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of the ICH Funding Scheme is to support local organisations and individuals with relevant experience to carry out projects related to local ICH, with a view to achieving the following objectives:

to strengthen the safeguarding, research, education, promotion and transmission of local ICH items;
to support the transmission of ICH by local bearers and bearer organisations;
to engage the participation of the community in safeguarding local ICH; and
to enhance public awareness, understanding and respect with regard to local ICH.

Funding Application

The application for the ICH Funding Scheme 2024 was closed at 12 noon on 27 January 2025. For details, please click the "Guide to Application for the Intangible Cultural Heritage Funding Scheme 2024".

Assessment Criteria

The criteria for assessment of the funding applications are as follows:

the proposed projects comply with the objectives of the ICH Funding Scheme, are of cultural values and can effectively manifest the cultural substance of the related ICH item(s);
the proposed projects demonstrate unique ideas / concepts, while the proposed forms of implementation are appropriate and feasible;
the applicants possess the relevant knowledge and skills, and have good track records; and the local personnel who will carry out or participate in the projects include local bearer(s) or members of local bearer organisation(s) of the related ICH item(s), or those with the relevant cultural and artistic literacy or administrative ability, qualifications, experience or reputation; and
the proposed projects are of social impact and benefit, including in the promotion, safeguarding and transmission of ICH in local academia / schools or different communities / groups.

Equal weightings will be assigned to the above four assessment criteria.

Assessment Mechanism

The Sub-committee on ICH Funding Scheme will assess the applications in accordance with the established criteria, guidelines and procedures. Upon receipt of the funding recommendations made by the Sub-committee on ICH Funding Scheme, the LCSD will make the final decision and determine the amount and conditions of funding support for approved cases pursuant to the established procedures. The LCSD reserves the ultimate right with regard to the procedures and arrangements of the assessment mechanism.