Harnessing the Power of the Arts to Transform Lives
Ms Ida Lam
Four decades on, her journey reflects the power of perseverance and the lasting impact of arts inclusion.
For four decades, Ms Ida Lam, Chairperson of Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong (ADAHK), has been dedicated to advancing artistic opportunities for people with disabilities while witnessing the Association’s remarkable growth. Her journey began in 1986 with the first Festival of Arts with the Disabled, where she participated as a representative of The Hong Kong Council of Social Service.
Inspired by the Festival of Arts with the Disabled:
Making Arts Inclusion a Social Responsibility
In the 1980s, the concept of ‘Arts with the Disabled’ was considered highly progressive. At that time, society was characterised by misconceptions and barriers towards people with disabilities. Few people reflected on the relationship between art and disability or considered how the arts could contribute to personal growth and development.
Following the Festival, members of the Festival’s Organising Committee believed that the promotion of arts inclusion should not be a one-off event but rather a long-term social endeavour. This conviction led to the establishment of the ADAHK, ensuring that the Festival’s vision and mission would continue.
Ms Lam has always believed that the arts have the power to change lives. One memory stands out vividly for her: a dance workshop designed for people with visual impairments. Although one participant’s movements appeared somewhat stiff and hesitant, his face radiated an indescribable sense of joy and confidence. In that moment, she realised that even a simple workshop or a single artistic training opportunity could profoundly impact a person’s life. This experience reinforced her belief that promoting social inclusion is not just an ideal, but a shared social responsibility.
Putting ‘Arts with the Disabled’ into Practice:
Support Each Other and Grow
In Ms Lam’s view, ‘Arts are for Everyone’ embodies the essence of ADAHK’s vision.
For the Association, the arts have never been an end in itself; they serve as a means of fostering social inclusion. At the heart of this vision is the belief that people with disabilities, like everyone else, have the right and opportunity to participate in, create, and pursue the arts.
The Association was founded with the aspiration of putting the principle of ‘Arts with the Disabled’ into practice. Over the years, what has brought Ms Lam the greatest satisfaction is witnessing the growth and transformation of countless artists with disabilities. Many artists have been with the Association for more than a decade, some for over 20 years. ADAHK has always emphasised accompaniment and long-term partnership rather than short-term training alone. Since 2009, ADAHK has identified emerging artistic talent through its ‘Cross All Borders’ programme and has continuously secured resources, performance opportunities, and exhibition platforms to support their professional development step by step.
Over the years, many artists have received awards and recognition on international platforms, while others have represented Hong Kong in overseas performances and cultural exchanges.
More recently, ADAHK has introduced a mentoring programme to create a more structured pathway for people with disabilities with professional artistic potential. Ms Lam hopes that through a systematic support framework, artists can continue to grow at different stages of their lives and gradually build sustainable careers in the arts. She firmly believes that meaningful artistic development requires time, dedication, and long-term commitment.
Limited Resources and the Need for Sustainable Support
Despite the increasing recognition of arts inclusion, Ms Lam acknowledges that a lack of resources remains the Association’s greatest challenge. She believes that genuinely supporting the growth of artists with disabilities requires not only short- and medium-term projects but also sustainable long-term planning. Unfortunately, many funding schemes operate on three-year cycles, and even highly successful and impactful programmes often struggle to continue once funding ends, limiting long-term development opportunities for artists with disabilities. For ADAHK, this remains one of the most difficult yet unavoidable realities.
Looking ahead, Ms Lam hopes to secure broader public recognition and support while encouraging the government to provide more sustainable policy and funding support for the development of arts inclusion. Reflecting the ‘people-centred’ approach outlined in ‘The First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the HKSAR,’ which emphasises improving livelihoods and integrating community resources, she hopes that the arts can create employment opportunities and enhance the livelihoods of people with disabilities, enabling them to achieve greater independence through artistic endeavours.
Promoting Arts Inclusion: The Greatest Reward
Reflecting on her four decades of promoting arts inclusion, Ms Lam identifies perseverance and resilience as the most significant lessons learned.
The journey has not been without challenges. However, whenever she believes that the cause can bring about positive change for persons with disabilities and society as a whole, she finds every effort worthwhile.
This conviction has continued to inspire her over the years, motivating her to strive for excellence.
Beyond the Association’s accomplishments, she cherishes the friendships and partnerships formed along the way. For 40 years, generations of Committee members have supported each other through every challenge.
She describes the spirit of the Association as one of perseverance. No matter how difficult the circumstances, there is always someone willing to step forward, face the challenge, and explore new possibilities.
What moves her most is witnessing many people with disabilities discover their passion and sense of purpose through the arts and gradually progress towards professional careers. Seeing them grow, gain recognition, and excel continues to inspire her.
These transformations have strengthened her belief that every effort and act of perseverance over the past 40 years has carried profound and lasting value.
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