Life on the Fringe

Co-published with MCCM Creations

Benny Chia’s memoir of life on the fringe is a vivacious slice of Hong Kong’s life and cultural development at a time of minimal institutional support. His colourful and anecdotal story will interest culture practitioners as well as the general reader curious about the Fringe Club and its role as a seedbed for local artists and as a venue for international ones, both functions championed by Benny at the helm of this small but important institution housed in a distinctive former ice house in Central.

Born in Singapore and educated in Hong Kong, Paris and Louvain-la-Neuve, Benny Chia 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 also scripted six stage shows, written three English readers published by Oxford University Press, and contributed articles to the South China Morning Post and several magazines.

Benny was a founding member of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, the 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.

‘Benny Chia, founder of the Fringe Club and champion of cultural policy, is a revered pioneer. To me, his forty-year love affair with the Fringe is the best Hong Kong success story in terms of cultural exchange and arts engagement. This compelling memoir reveals the secrets behind Benny’s achievements – his unparalleled qualities as an artist, manager, entrepreneur, intellectual, connector and friend.’

—SUN-MAN TSENG, Adjunct Professor, Education University of Hong Kong; author of The Practice of Arts Administration

‘Wonderful! What the Fringe Club did for the arts in the 1990s and early 2000s was extremely important. If you were there, then read this and learn some of its secrets. If you missed it, then read this and be stirred to do something extraordinary yourself. Benny’s book manages to inspire, enrich and entertain all at the same time. Just as the Fringe Club used to do.’

—VICTORIA FINLAY, Author of Colour: Travels Through the Paintbox; former arts editor, South China Morning Post

‘This is a book for people curious about that old building on the hill at Ice House Street, and about Hong Kong culture. Benny Chia crafts his memoir with restraint and elegance, much like a director creating a play.’

—MARISSA FUNG-SHAW, Former Trustee, Asian Cultural Council, Member, M+ Board of Directors

‘Benny Chia is synonymous with the Fringe Club. Camaraderie and conviviality pervade Life on the Fringe, reminding us of the timelessness of creativity and collaboration, which are two essential ingredients in any meaningful venture. A must-read for arts, heritage and history lovers.’

—LYNN YAU, CEO, The Absolutely Fabulous Theatre Connection

With vivid storytelling and a keen eye for detail, the author candidly unveils his challenges, triumphs and even failures of navigating a life dedicated to art and culture.  A testament to resilience.

—G.C. Arts educator