The Division of Arts and Machine Creativity (AMC) recently concluded its 2026 retreat in Shenzhen, marking an important milestone in the Division’s development and long-term planning.
Held from July 13 – 14, 2026, the two-day retreat brought together AMC faculty members and office colleagues for a combination of industry visits, strategic planning and focused discussions on the Division’s academic and community priorities. A central outcome of the retreat was the revision of AMC’s vision and mission statements, which will guide the Division’s development over the coming years. Participants also agreed on a new slogan that reflects the Division’s identity and future ambitions, and discussed the strategic directions for AMC in the next five years.
Connecting with Shenzhen’s technology sector
The first day of the retreat focused on engagement with Shenzhen’s technology and innovation ecosystem. The AMC delegation visited Astribot（星塵智能） and Tencent, gaining first-hand exposure to developments and working environments in the technology sector. The visits provided opportunities for AMC colleagues to learn more about industry practices and consider how emerging technologies could connect with the Division’s work at the intersection of arts, machine creativity and technological innovation.
AMC’s renewed vision and missions, and a new slogan
The second day of the retreat was devoted to internal planning and discussion. Following an update from AMC Acting Head Prof. Hongbo FU, participants examined the Division’s existing vision and mission statements. After rounds of painstaking scrutiny and feedback, a revised version ensuring accurate expression of the Division’s purpose, distinctive strengths and aspirations was unanimously agreed upon.
Revised AMC vision
To be a globally leading interdisciplinary home for arts and machine creativity — advancing education, research, critical inquiry, and creative practices that impact culture, society, and technology in an AI-transformed world.
Revised mission statements
- To foster an inclusive, diverse environment that empowers artists, technologists, and scholars to collaborate, experiment, and innovate across boundaries in education, research, and creative practice.
- To conduct world-class interdisciplinary research in arts and machine creativity, generating new knowledge and practices that respond to and impact an AI-transformed world.
- To develop interdisciplinary educational programs and initiatives that advance arts and machine creativity and strengthen the ecosystem of universities, industries, and cultural institutions.
- To cultivate artistic and creative talents who can critically develop and leverage emerging technologies to transform culture, society, and industries in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and globally.
The revised statements are intended to provide a clear foundation for AMC’s future work in research, education, creative practice, student development and engagement with academic and industry partners.
Participants also agreed on a new slogan for the Division:
Artful Machines, Critical Minds 機創藝境，思辨本心
The slogan deftly captures the essence of AMC in the ever-changing world today and its core momentum moving forward, and will help communicate AMC’s identity to students, collaborators and the wider community.
Towards a stronger shared sense of direction and new development
In addition to producing concrete visionary outcomes, the retreat created space for colleagues to exchange ideas across AMC’s core areas of activity. Dedicated sessions on the Division's strategic directions in the upcoming five years considered research matters, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, student engagement and the future development of AMC events. The discussions were led or co-moderated by different AMC colleagues, encouraging broad participation in shaping the Division’s priorities, while providing a common framework for advancing the Division’s academic mission and strengthening its contribution to the evolving relationship among arts, machine creativity and technology.
The retreat concluded with a stronger shared understanding of AMC’s identity and priorities. Its central outcomes, including the renewed vision and mission statements and the new slogan, will serve as a solid foundation for the Division’s next stage of development.
