The Fringe Club is a

not-for-profit arts organisation A not-for-profit arts organization, also known as a nonprofit arts organization, usually takes the form of a not-for-profit organization, association, or foundation. Such organizations are formed for the purpose of developing and promoting the wor ...

. Its mission is to help emergent artists, promote Hong Kong artists abroad through cultural exchange and overseas touring, and conserve and develop Hong Kong cultural heritage. It provides rent-free contemporary arts space for exhibitions and performances. It is located in 2

Lower Albert Road Lower Albert Road is a road on the Government Hill in the Central area of Hong Kong. The road was named after Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the consort of Queen Victoria. Features The south major entrance of the Former Central Govern ...

, Central District. It is housed in a Grade-I heritage building, the old Dairy farm cold storage depot, built circa 1892 in a late Victorian

eclectic Eclectic may refer to: Music * ''Eclectic'' (Eric Johnson and Mike Stern album), 2014 * ''Eclectic'' (Big Country album), 1996 * Eclectic Method, name of an audio-visual remix act * Eclecticism in music, the conscious use of styles alien to th ...

style. The facade of this building is distinguished by its "blood and bandages" brickwork.

Premises

In 1892,

Dairy Farm Dairy farming is a class of agriculture for long-term production of milk, which is processed (either on the farm or at a dairy plant, either of which may be called a dairy) for eventual sale of a dairy product. Dairy farming has a history th ...

built a low-rise brick and stucco building on Lower Albert Road in Central for use as a cold storage warehouse. This warehouse was later renovated and expanded in 1913 to include a dairy shop, a room for meat smoking, a cold storage room for winter clothes and residency for the general manager. The building later evolved into the company headquarters until the company moved in the 1970s. The abandoned building was acquired by the Hong Kong Fringe Club in 1984. * The building has undergone many major

renovation Renovation (also called remodeling) is the process of improving broken, damaged, or outdated structures. Renovations are typically done on either commercial or residential buildings. Additionally, renovation can refer to making something new, ...

s to make it a vibrant place for contemporary arts since the Fringe Club moved in, in 1983. In 2001, the building won a Hong Kong Government

Heritage Award The PRS for Music Heritage Award is a ceremonial plaque installed in a public place to commemorate a link between a famous musician or music band and the location they performed their first live gig. The UK-wide plaque is awarded and funded by ...

for its use of the building. It has been categorised as a Grade I historic building.List of Graded Historic Buildings in Hong Kong (as at 7 Nov 2008)

Arts venues

The Fringe Club has two studio theatres, an exhibition areas, a rehearsal room, restaurants, a roof garden and offices. It features and promotes theatre, dance, music and exhibitions. The operation of this organisation is supported by the

Hong Kong Arts Development Council The Hong Kong Arts Development Council (ADC) is a statutory body in Hong Kong tasked with development of the arts in the territory. The ADC was created in 1995, under the Hong Kong Arts Development Council Ordinance, Chapter 472, replacing t ...

and earned incomes from its food and beverage facilities,

ticket Ticket or tickets may refer to: Slips of paper * Lottery ticket * Parking ticket, a ticket confirming that the parking fee was paid (and the time of the parking start) * Toll ticket, a slip of paper used to indicate where vehicles entered a tol ...

sales, advertising,

membership Member may refer to: * Military jury, referred to as "Members" in military jargon * Element (mathematics), an object that belongs to a mathematical set * In object-oriented programming, a member of a class ** Field (computer science), entries in ...

fees,

sponsorship Sponsoring something (or someone) is the act of supporting an event, activity, person, or organization financially or through the provision of products or services. The individual or group that provides the support, similar to a benefactor, is k ...

and

donation A donation is a gift for charity, humanitarian aid, or to benefit a cause. A donation may take various forms, including money, alms, services, or goods such as clothing, toys, food, or vehicles. A donation may satisfy medical needs such as ...

s. Anita Chan Lai-ling Gallery Anita Chan Lai-ling Gallery is converted from the garage of the old Dairy Farm Cold Storage Depot. It is now an art space for contemporary work by Hong Kong and international artists. Fringe Dairy Fringe Dairy is the only jazz and

cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music, song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, a casino, a hotel, a restaurant, or a nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining o ...

space in Hong Kong. The original features are still retained when this place served as the front shop of the old Dairy Farm Cold Storage Depot for selling milk and ice cream, such as the 1913 tiled floor, tall french windows with wooden shutters and overhead fans. The Jockey Club Studio Theatre The Jockey Club Studio Theatre was used as dry storage of fur coats of the old Dairy Farm Cold Storage Depot. It is now transformed into a black-box studio. Fringe Underground The Fringe Underground Theatre was the warehouse of the old Dairy Farm Cold Storage Depot to process blocks of ice and cold meat. It is now transformed into a theatre for art performance and creative experimentation. Fringe Vault Fringe Vault served to keep and store blocks of ice, dairy products and cold meats. It now serves as a cafe, where the original white-tiled walls and other architectural features have been preserved. Colette Artbar Colette Artbar was once the staff dormitory of the old Dairy Farm. It is now designed to provide an art space for exhibiting photography and paintings. It is named to commemorate Colette Koo, a multi-talented artist and actress. NOVE at the Fringe It was the

Taipan Taipans are snakes of the genus ''Oxyuranus'' in the elapid family. They are large, fast-moving, highly venomous, and endemic to Australia and New Guinea. Three species are recognised, one of which, the coastal taipan, has two subspecies. Taipa ...

’s office and residence. The fireplace can still be found in the room, and the chimney was connected to the rooftop. It is now a Chinese restaurant.

References

External links

* {{Coord, 22.28014, 114.15575, display=title 1984 establishments in Hong Kong Art museums and galleries in Hong Kong Central, Hong Kong Grade I historic buildings in Hong Kong Music venues in Hong Kong