It is the mission of the Hong Kong Museum of Art to preserve the cultural heritage of China and promote art with a local focus. Its collections now number in excess of 16,000 art objects, including Chinese paintings and calligraphy works, antique Chinese treasures, paintings of historical significance as well as creations by local artists. The highlights of the collections are on display in the exhibition galleries. To maintain an essential international character, the museum also presents a great variety of thematic exhibitions drawn from local and overseas sources so as to enhance participants' knowledge of and interest in artistic creation.