So bee it

From the outset, practitioners of indigenous craft and cultural heritage traditions have figured in the Inter-Island Festival. In 2023, artists from the Lantau Shanto Studio in Mui Wo and the bamboo crafts workshop Yiwooo in Peng Chau joined forces with the Science Unit of Lingnan University to form a project team for the festival.

"Our goal was to organize a mini-education program during the festival to raise public awareness about solitary bees and wasps," says Roger Lee, a research assistant professor at the Science Unit. "After an enjoyable brainstorming session, we developed a project called Island Bee & Bee."

Using locally sourced materials such as Mui Wo clay and Peng Chau bamboo, a series of "bee hotels" were created and installed in both locations. Each comes with educational panels offering insights into the ecology in which bees thrive and their significance as pollinators.

At the workshops held as part of the project, participants were invited to make their own bee hotels using locally available materials, once again with a view to raising awareness about the importance of supporting local biodiversity.

"I believe both Hong Kong residents and overseas visitors had an enjoyable time at the Inter-Island Festival, given its diverse range of activities and emphasis on local culture," Lee says. "It provides a unique perspective for tourists to experience Hong Kong's rural communities and their distinct cultural heritages."