Vision

Tai Kwun is Hong Kong’s Centre for Heritage and Arts

Tai Kwun is Hong Kong’s Centre for Heritage and Arts — a cultural destination for inspiration, stimulation and enjoyment. We aspire to offer the best heritage and arts experiences, and to cultivate knowledge and appreciation of contemporary art, performing arts and history in the community.

Tai Kwun invites all visitors on a journey of discovery that unites multiple genres of arts, heritage, culture and lifestyle in Hong Kong.  Here, visitors will discover the rich heritage of the site through the thematic exhibitions and immersive public programmes that explore Hong Kong’s history and culture, alongside a multitude of vibrant and inclusive contemporary art presentations and performing arts offerings all year round.

Opened in May 2018 and operating on a not-for-profit model, Tai Kwun is the fruition of a joint partnership between The Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Government of the HKSAR to conserve and revitalise the buildings of the historic Central Police Station compound, which represents one of the most significant revitalisation projects in Hong Kong. The site comprises three Declared Monuments of Hong Kong – the former Central Police Station, Central Magistracy and Victoria Prison, all have been meticulously conserved, with unfailing attention to authenticity. The site also includes two new buildings – JC Contemporary and JC Cube, by renowned architects Herzog & de Meuron; and several outdoor spaces – Parade Ground, Prison Yard and Laundry Steps, providing an exciting venue for the public programmes presented by Tai Kwun and its partners.

Tai Kwun, which means “big station” in Chinese, is the colloquial name used by Hong Kong people to refer to the former police headquarters and the surrounding compound. The name has been adopted as a reminder of the historical importance of this living heritage site.

In 2019, Tai Kwun received the Award of Excellence in the 2019 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. This is the highest honour of the prestigious Awards, which bestows an international recognition of the outstanding achievement in the conservation and revitalisation efforts of Tai Kwun.


Highlight Videos

Space for Enjoyment

14 May 2020
1:18

【Discover Tai Kwun】EP1: Unfolding the Historical Stories

1 May 2020
4:40

【Discover Tai Kwun】EP2: Stories beyond the century-old dock

8 May 2020
4:43

【Discover Tai Kwun】EP3: Secret Murals Behind the Wall

15 May 2020
4:44

【Discover Tai Kwun】 EP4: Behind the Bars at B Hall

22 May 2020
4:36

【Discover Tai Kwun】 EP5: Reshaping the Memory of D Hall

28 May 2020
5:30

Concepts Behind Tai Kwun Logo

9 Aug 2017
0:57

Phantom Plane, Cyberpunk in the Year of the Future

5 Oct 2019
8:21

MURAKAMI vs MURAKAMI Interview

1 Jun 2019
5:00

Behind the Scenes of Tai Kwun 101 – The Exhibits

25 May 2019
1:45

A hollow in a world too full

8 Sep 2018
2:22

100 Faces of Tai Kwun

29 May 2018
5:35

ÉLAN Lost Child Project HK

28 Jun 2020
2:40

55 Squared

25 May 2020
5:40

Circus Plays 2019

24 Dec 2019
1:30

Projekt Berlin

4 Nov 2019
0:45

Herbert’s Dream

26 Oct 2018
0:21

Awards

Tai Kwun is awarded with Award of Excellence, the highest recognition in UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation

2020                                            

ICE Awards 2020: Brunel Medal – Highly Commended

Institution of Civil Engineers

HKICON Conservation Award 2019 – Revitalisation Category

The Hong Kong Institute of Architectural Conservationists (HKICON)

Projekt Berlin was awarded Best Event Production – Gold Award, Marketing Events Award 2020

Marketing Magazine

Projekt Berlin was awarded Best Culture Event – Bronze Award, Marketing Events Award 2020

Marketing Magazine

Manpower Developers of ERB Manpower Developer Award Scheme 2020-2022

Employees Retraining Board

2019 

Award of Excellence, UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation

UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation

One of the Top 10 Museums and Cultural Venues of 2019

Designboom magazine

MURAKAMI vs MURAKAMI was named as one of the Top 10 Art Exhibitions in 2019

Designboom magazine

Marco Polo Club Members’ Choice Awards 2019 – Best Hong Kong Arts Venue

Marco Polo Club

HKIA Annual Awards 2018/2019
Special Architectural Award: Heritage & Adaptive Re-use

Hong Kong Institute of Architects

HKIA Annual Awards 2018/2019
HKIA Merit Award of Hong Kong – Mixed Use(es) Building

Hong Kong Institute of Architects

HKICON Conservation Award 2018 - Interpretation Category

The Hong Kong Institute
of Architectural Conservationists

Structural Excellence Award 2019 Grand Award

The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers

Fire Engineering Excellence Award 2019

The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers

Tai Kwun Opening Season was awarded HKDA Global Design Awards 2018 — Excellence Award on Visual Identity System

Hong Kong Designers Association

100 Faces of Tai Kwun was awarded 2019 FRAME Awards – Social Award (People’s Choice)

FRAME Awards

Prison Architect, a film commissioned by Tai Kwun was selected for the Berlin International Film Festival

Berlinale 2019 (the 69th Berlin International Film Festival)

Tai Kwun Dance Season was awarded Outstanding Small Venue Production at 2019 Hong Kong Dance Awards (Tai Kwun and Joseph Lee, Rebecca Wong, KT Yau Ka-hei)

Hong Kong Dance Alliance

Tai Kwun Dance Season was awarded Outstanding Services to Dance at 2019 Hong Kong Dance Awards

Hong Kong Dance Alliance

2018

One of the World’s 100 Greatest Places 2018 which span six continents and 48 countries and territories

TIME Magazine

New Cultural Destination of the Year - APAC

Leading Cultural Destinations Awards 2018

Grand Award, DFA Design for Asia Awards 2018

Hong Kong Design Centre

100 Faces of Tai Kwun was awarded Merit Award, DFA Design for Asia Awards 2018

Hong Kong Design Centre

AIA Hong Kong Citation 2018

American Institute of Architects (AIA) Hong Kong Chapter