Life on the Fringe

Co-published with MCCM Creations

This highly personal memoir offers a vivacious slice of Hong Kong life, of arts and culture development at a time of minimal institutional support. The story, told in a colourful and anecdotal manner, speaks to arts and culture practitioners as well as a cross-section of readers who are interested in the story of an arts aficionado who pioneered and navigated creatively and intelligently through dreams, friendship, the unknown, personal and socio-political and economic uncertainties, and the many decision-making moments in what arts and life are offering.

Born in Singapore and educated in Hong Kong, Paris and Louvain-la-Neuve, Benny Chia Chun Heng started the Fringe Festival in 1983, founded the Fringe Club in 1984 and steered the Fringe Club as Managing Director and Artistic Director through to 2022 – almost forty years.  He has scripted six stage shows, written three English Readers published by Oxford University Press, and contributed articles for the South China Morning Post and several magazines. Chia was a founding member of Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Hong Kong International Film Festival, and the Hong Kong Arts Administrators Association. Honours include the Bronze Bauhinia Star from the HKSAR Government, the Badge of Honour from the former Hong Kong Government, Best Arts Promoter from the Hong Kong Artists Guild, and Hero of Hong Kong from Time Out Magazine.