A guitar shredding through neon streets and a delicate ink-wash mantis stepping across drawing paper are making an unlikely splash at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum this summer.

Through the MuseTeens: Youth Leadership Scheme, local students traded traditional textbooks for a rare, behind-the-scenes look at museum operations.

Hands-on training

Participants went deep into the museum’s inner workings, visiting conservation laboratories to see how specialists restore artefacts across various materials, learning collection management, mastering exhibition curation, and leading guided tours for friends and family.

Under this year’s theme, “When Collections Take the Lead - Creative Stop-motion Animation”, participants handled every step of production, from scriptwriting and storyboarding to filming.

Creative expression

Their creations – ranging from rock legend Wong Ka-kui’s acoustic guitar flying past the city’s neon lights to Lingnan painting master Chao Shao-an’s brushstrokes blooming into life – offered fresh perspectives on classic collections.

Beyond giving participants a deeper appreciation for the individual artefacts, the creative process offered museum visitors a fresh, imaginative lens through which to view the broader collection. Selected standout animations will also take centre stage at the programme’s year-end showcase.

Transformative insights

For participant Lin Hao, inspecting artefact care alongside museum curators was not only valuable but also transformative.

“This knowledge is difficult to come across, whether online or in everyday life,” Mr Lin said. “The experience helped us understand how much care and expertise goes into museum work behind the scenes.”

He added that the process reshaped his connection to local heritage.

“I want to learn more about Hong Kong’s culture and history, and share them with others so they can discover just how fascinating and distinctive Hong Kong’s style is.”

Fresh perspectives

Fellow participant Yip Cheuk-kiu, who plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in global creative industries, found inspiration in the museum’s immersive “On Flowers: Selected Paintings and Poems by Chao Shao-an” exhibit zone.

Stepping into the exhibit’s immersive multimedia zone, she watched painted blooms sway in an unfelt breeze, blossom, and wither - an experience that felt less like viewing art and more like stepping straight into the paintings.

“I started to learn how to do some cross-field conversations between different fields,” Miss Yip said. “Perhaps the historical and the literature text can be the foundation, and on the foundation, I can have my own interpretation and breathe life into the unspoken heritage.”

Future impact

Launched in 2006, the MuseTeens scheme expanded from one week to two as the museum’s cultural programming grew. Since introducing annual thematic approaches in 2013, the initiative has offered structured exposure through expert talks, museum visits, field trips, and school presentations led by returning students.

Hong Kong Heritage Museum Assistant Curator II (Education & Extension) Arts Maggie Yu said the scheme is designed to anchor youth in local culture while fostering personal growth.

She said participant feedback underscored the programme’s impact, with students reporting sharper leadership, communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.

Beyond personal development, the experience instilled a deeper commitment to safeguarding local cultural heritage and a richer appreciation for arts and culture.

“Once students develop the ability to appreciate and understand arts and culture, they will naturally be more inclined to take part in cultural activities in the future,” Miss Yu said.

She also hopes the hands-on experience will give participants the foundation they need to pursue future careers in the arts and cultural sector.