The space crunch that dogs the arts and sports communities is being tackled, with the Government intent on opening up existing facilities and space for them to train, rehearse or perform. For instance, the public underpass leading to the Esplanade could be a space that arts groups can use, as is done at France’s Centquatre public cultural centre, suggested MCCY Minister Grace Fu. The cultural centre in Paris is an open area where arts groups can rehearse without a booking, as long as they do not disturb each other. Similarly, Ms Fu wants more schools to let sports enthusiasts use their facilities outside school hours, and is working with MOE to achieve this. What of the new billion-dollar Sports Hub, a major investment by the Government that has come under fire for its high rents? Ms Fu sees a smoother road ahead for the facility, whose centrepiece is the 55,000-seat National Stadium. The reason for her optimism: The operators, having run the place since 2014, should now have a better grasp of how to keep costs down.... Continue Reading