S2:E1 Knowing your audience: lessons from the West Kowloon Cultural District – Kingsley Jayasekera in conversation with Adrian Ellis
Guest
Kingsley Jayasekera
In conversation with
Adrian Ellis
Key Takeaways Contributor
Criena Gehrke
In this episode, our host Adrian Ellis speaks with Kingsley Jayasekera, former Director of Marketing and Customer Experience, at the West Kowloon Cultural District. They reflect on his near decade-long experience in Hong Kong and discuss the importance of cultivating arts audiences through creating holistic customer experiences – and using social media for outreach and engagement.
After, Adrian is joined by Criena Gehrke to discuss key takeaways. They highlight the challenges of audience development, including the ethical issues of data collection and privacy.
Date of Recording
14 December 2021
Date of Publication
3 February 2022
[00:00:00]
[THEME MUSIC]
[00:00:06]
Adrian Ellis: Hello, and welcome to The Three Bells. This podcast is one of a series brought to you by AEA Consulting and The Binnacle Foundation for the Global Cultural Districts Network, in which we explore what's happening around the world on those busy and sometimes congested intersections of cultural and urban life.
The series and supporting materials can be found at www.thethreebells.net and if you like our content, please subscribe and give us a positive review on your podcast listening platform of choice.
I'm Adrian Ellis, chair of GCDN. And today I'm talking to Kingsley Jayasekera. From 2013 until late last year, Kingsley was the general manager of marketing and customer experience for the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong. And last year, he also acted as director of marketing for the recently opened M+ museum of visual culture, and successfully saw through the launch campaign for that new anchor of the West Kowloon district.
Kingsley has a remarkable overview – having spent the best part of a decade, right at the heart of the project. I followed the evolution of the district through various chapters from about 2002. So having the opportunity to talk to Kingsley about the story from the inside is a privilege, particularly as I managed to catch him on his last day in Hong Kong. Kingsley shares his thoughts on West Kowloon, its evolution and the challenges and opportunities that it presents.
And after the conversation I'm joined by Criena Gehrke for our usual discussion of key takeaways. So stay tuned.
[00:01:42]
[MUSIC BREAK]
[00:01:49]
Adrian Ellis: Hi Kingsley.
[00:01:50]
Kingsley Jayasekera: Hi there.
[00:01:51]
Adrian Ellis: So am I right in thinking that this is your last day in Hong Kong?
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External Links
West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD), an integrated arts and cultural quarter in Hong Kong that was first proposed in 1996 – one of the largest cultural projects in the world.
Sadler’s Wells, a globally-renowned dance organisation and performing arts venue based in London, England.
Xiqu Centre, a performance venue dedicated to Chinese opera in WKCD – opened in 2019.
Art Park, a green space in WKCD that welcomes visitors to relax and play.
M+ Museum, a new museum in WKCD exhibiting twentieth and twenty-first century visual culture encompassing visual art, design and architecture, and moving image – opened in 2021.
Digital wayfinding at West Kowloon Cultural District: a case study on how digital wayfinding and digital maps are used to elevate visitor experiences at WKCD.
Hong Kong Palace Museum, a planned museum exhibiting artefacts from Beijing’s Palace Museum in WKCD – expected to open in July 2022.
High Line, a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side.
About Our Speakers
Kingsley Jayasekera is a communications and marketing professional with extensive experience in both the commercial and subsidised culture and entertainment sectors. Until late 2021, he worked as Director, Marketing & Customer Experience at the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong. +
Adrian Ellis is the founder of AEA Consulting (1990) and the Global Cultural Districts Network (2013). He has worked in senior management and as a board member in both museums and the performing arts and as a strategy consultant to leading clients in the cultural, public, and business sectors around the world. +
Criena Gehrke is Chief Executive Officer of HOTA, Home of the Arts. She has a diverse and eclectic background in arts management and a particular passion for the role of arts and culture in building strong and connected communities. She has worked with all tiers of government on the development and implementation of cultural policy. +
