SOAS and WestK Academy Announce New Professional Course
SOAS University of London is pleased to announce a new partnership with WestK Academy on an intensive 8‑day professional training course, Asian Art Museum Practice. The course is jointly delivered by WestK Academy, The Hong Kong Palace Museum, and School of Arts, SOAS.
The collaboration forms part of a wider series of initiatives with the West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK) announced as part of the Hong Kong International Cultural Summity 2026 (HKICS).
About the Course: Asian Art Museum Practice
Asian Art Museum Practice is an intensive professional course designed to foster international exchange, practical learning, and critical reflection on the curation, display and management of Asian art in museums.
The course equips participants with insight into contemporary Asian museum practices while promoting global perspectives and building peer networks.
The course is taught by Professor Stacey Pierson and Dr Malcolm McNeill from the School of Arts and the SOAS-Alphawood programme, alongside contributions from the management and curatorial team of The Hong Kong Palace Museum. Together, the teaching team will offer participants in‑depth engagement with the practical, intellectual, and ethical issues shaping current museum practice.
The course also includes site visits and exhibition tours in museums across WestK, private museum visits in Hong Kong, providing first-hand exposure to past and present curatorial practices and museum operations.
Course Details
Course period: 1-8 November 2026. Applications open in June 2026.
For further information and details on how to apply, please visit the WestK Academy website
About WestK Academy
Established in late 2025 by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, WestK Academy aims to support the development of Hong Kong’s cultural and creative industries and strengthen the city’s role as an international arts and cultural metropolis.
WestK Academy’s vision is to nurture the next generation of museum professionals and performing and visual arts practitioners by providing international perspectives, exposure to industry practices, and opportunities to network with peers and professionals worldwide.
