Raffel Navigates M+ Through Turbulent Waters

The Museum of Visual and Digital Culture in Hong Kong has navigated significant challenges since its opening five years ago. Suhanya Raffel, the museum's director, has overseen this period under difficult circumstances.

Raffel opened M+ during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, only to face growing government censorship and a funding crisis. She has defended artistic independence while operating under Hong Kong's national security law, which criminalizes anything deemed critical of China's government.

Despite these obstacles, Raffel has made strides in increasing private fundraising. In 2025, M+ raised HKD130,000,000 (approximately $16.6 million), a significant accomplishment given shrinking public funding and scrutiny in Hong Kong.

The museum has also established its global credibility through 15 major collaboration agreements with institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.