Issue 08: The Audaciousness Of Lindsey Mcalister
THE AUDACIOUSNESS OF LINDSEY MCALISTER
Lindsey McAlister speaks to Debbie Mannas
Introduction
Meet Lindsey McAlister, Audaciousness Personified!
After working for the Arts Council of GB and the Gulbenkian Foundation implementing the arts in schools report, Lindsey left the UK to travel… after one year she arrived in HK. That was nearly 40 years ago!
In 1993, Lindsey founded the Hong Kong Youth Arts Festival (YAF). Each year she creates at least one major performance to be staged in HK. In 2006 YAF became a Foundation.
Lindsey was awarded an MBE on the Birthday Honours list in 1997 for her work in the field of youth arts and in 2006 she received an upgrade to an OBE for her contribution to British Arts Overseas.
At the age of 62 Lindsey has reinvented/gone back to her roots as a visual artist with her uniquely Hong Kong brand ‘CRAFTY BITCH’
We are so delighted that Lindsey took the time to tell IMTAC about her inspirational journey.
Lindsey, tell us how audaciousness is such a great thing to have in your arsenal and how it helped you get YAF got off the ground.
I’d been trying to get YAF off the ground for several months, doing very un-strategic things like cold calling companies from the yellow pages. And surprise surprise! No one wanted to meet to discuss my idea!
So one day, I started doing the rounds of arts events…and on the very same day, I heard the name Po Chung and knew that the Universe was sending me a sign. So I contacted his office. His assistant very politely told me to send a letter outlining my project. She also told me timing was great as he’d just begun an initiative called “Business for the Arts” and they were seeking new projects for seeding funding. YEAH!!
After a few days I was invited into Po’s office to make a presentation. I’d never done anything like that before…so I did my ‘one woman show’. And afterwards I was asked to keep them posted on how plans were going. Not what I wanted to hear! This was about 6 months into my mission. I had to make a decision: forget the idea or put my money where my mouth was!
Problem was I didn’t have any money! I had about $500HK in a Standard Chartered account; and so I went to have a chat with my bank manager. I told him about my brilliant idea and said I’d like an overdraft to make it a reality. The bank manager politely declined this ‘opportunity’. So I folded my arms and sat tight announcing that I wasn’t going anywhere until he gave it to me.
Throughout the day he kept popping back to his office to see if I’d gone. I hadn’t! I kept thinking that security was going to throw me onto the street or the police would arrest me. They didn’t! As it was nearing closing time he came in and said “Do you promise you’ll pay it back?” I said “YES” (having no idea whether I’d be able to) and he gave me the good news that the over draft was approved!!
I created a programme of events, invited schools & artists, booked venues and printed a programme, which I posted to everyone!!!
After several days I received a phone call from Po Chung. He congratulated me on making it happen and enquired who my sponsor was as there were no logos on the materials I’d sent him. I told him about the overdraft and he invited me to his office the following day.
When I got there he was sitting at his massive desk with his cheque book out.
“How much is your overdraft?” He wrote a cheque.
“How much do you need to make your Festival happen?” He wrote another!
This was a fantastic life lesson for me! If you want, ASK.
What accomplishments in your journey do you cherish the most, and why?
I can see every day the difference that I and the Foundation make in the lives of young people. YAFfies are an extraordinarily motivated, talented & inspired young bunch who join ‘the tribe’ to find their ‘art-family’. We have YAFfies all over the world involved in the arts and creative industries…we have performers on Broadway & the West End…on TV…in films, directing/producing and creating theatre. YAF has made a tremendous contribution to the HK arts scene over the past 30 years!
How did you deal with the critics and naysayers?
I don’t listen to them…I follow my heart and try not to be discouraged by people who don’t share my vision and ability to make magic happen! I just crack on and prove it can be done! No point losing energy on another person…put all your energy and passion into the task at hand!
I really love your sense of fashion and the brilliant, flamboyant colours and styles you wear. Tell us how you make your choice for the day? How does it represent you and set the tone?
My home in Sai Kung is also full of colour (I painted the exterior bright orange with bright blue accents). The walls of our bedroom (I have a very accommodating husband, ha!!) are festooned with all my jewellery! A lot of my clothes are quite diaphanous and colourful. I especially love to contrast colours that others might not put together, I love things that clash. I also love patterns and am not afraid of wearing numerous different patterns in one outfit!! My favourite accessories are my huge earrings…I have curated an amazing collection over the years and am always on the lookout for new designers to buy from. I don’t have any expensive jewellery (apart from my wedding and engagement rings); everything else is cheap and cheerful but has massive sentimental value, worth more than diamonds to me. My clothes and accessories (I love, love, love long flowy scarves…especially Indian dupattas!!) give me soooooo much joy…they make me smile and I hope my wardrobe choices brighten others’ days as much as they do mine. Plus, they act as GREAT conversation starters!
Lindsey, you’re an inspirational boundary breaker who has challenged norms throughout your life. Tell our girls and young women something you really believe in and want them to know? Something you feel is never discussed openly, which has helped you?
Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. My motto in life is “If you don’t ask, you don’t get”. Put your wants and your needs out into the Universe…if you don’t do that, how do you expect to get it?
Follow the Audacious Lindsey on IG @lindseyhongkong
YAF @hkyaf
www.hkyaf.com
