“Art Macao” was inaugurated on 6 June at the Art Plaza of the Macao Cultural Centre, together with the opening of “Art Macao: International Art Exhibition”, the main exhibition at the Macao Museum of Art on the same day, starting an arts festival of unprecedented scale.

Under the patronage of the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, the first edition of “Art Macao” is organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Macao Government Tourism Office and co-organized by the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Higher Education Bureau, Galaxy Entertainment Group, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited, MGM, Sands China Ltd., Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, S.A. (SJM), Wynn Macau, Limited, Nam Kwong (Group) Company Limited and various foreign consulates accredited in Hong Kong and Macao, presenting a series of artistic events, including a number of international art exhibitions, performances, international youth festivals and visual arts exhibitions of Macao higher education institutions to be held for half a year. A total of 41 large-scale events will be held at 48 locations, through a multi-media and art platform, breaking the limitations of space concepts to form an arts festival of unprecedented scale and present a new brand of cultural tourism of Macao to the world.

“Art Macao” will enhance the charm of the city by using artistic and cultural forces from around the world. Externally, it promotes the cultural image, creates a brand of cultural tourism, enriches the tourism products and strengthens the humanistic foundation for sustainable development. Internally, it enriches the cultural lives of local residents, improves the overall humanistic qualities, promotes the surrounding industries and the development of the cultural industries, building Macao into a multi-sustainable cultural city with favourable conditions for living, business, tourism and entertainment.

Spectacular opening ceremony starts a new chapter of the cultural and artistic development of Macao

Based on the concept of art, Macao and city, the opening ceremony of “Art Macao” integrates art into the venue directly, just like colouring the venue directly. The ceremony was officiated by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam Chon Weng; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Xue Xiao Feng; the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Shen Beili; the Consul General of Portugal in Macao and Hong Kong, Paulo Cunha Alves; the Consul General of Belgium in Hong Kong, Michèle Deneffe; the Consul General of Japan in Hong Kong, Mitsuhiro Wada; the Deputy Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong and Macao, Giorgia Norfo; the Head of Cultural, Educational and Sport Affairs of Consulate General of Hungary in Hong Kong, Diana Danyi; the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Mok Ian Ian; the Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited, Lawrence Ho; the Co-Chairperson and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited, Pansy Ho; the Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer of Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, S.A. (SJM), Angela Leong On Kei; the President of Sands China Ltd., Wilfred Wong; the Vice Chairman and Executive Director of Wynn Macau, Limited, Linda Chih-Ling Chen; the Chief Operating Officer of Galaxy Entertainment Group, Kevin Kelley; the Assistant General Manager of Nam Kwong (Group) Company Limited, Song Xiaodong; the Director of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, Lou Pak Sang; and the Acting Director of the Higher Education Bureau, Chang Kun Hong, among others. Nearly 600 representatives of participating entities in “Art Macao” and guests activated the device, celebrating the launch of a new brand of cultural tourism. The opening ceremony was spectacular, starting a new chapter of the cultural and artistic development of Macao. After that, the guests visited the main exhibition “Art Macao: International Art Exhibition”. A welcome dinner was also held at Wynn Palace on the same day, celebrating the success of “Art Macao” together with the participating entities.

Excellent works of art scattered everywhere; exhibition venues throughout the city

“Art Macao” reflects the good desire that all social sectors, from the government, enterprises, artists to residents, are keen to participate in the cultural and artistic development. This dedication of the whole society is the major force for the sustainable development of cultural undertakings and cultural industries. “Art Macao” invited several hotels and integrated resorts to collaborate in the organization of the “Art Macao: International Art Exhibition”, the mega event’s highlight, mobilizing the human and spatial resources of the various participating entities and invoking the power of arts from around the globe to encourage local artistic creation, enhance the humanistic spirit of Macao. The theme of the first edition of the event is “Diversity”, which reflects the reality of social culture and artistic creation through crossover cooperation, presents the richness of styles and forms, connecting different cultures, expanding the artistic vision of the public, building a creative atmosphere and revealing the inclusivity and generosity of Macao’s cultural connotation.

The main exhibition, located at the Macao Museum of Art, features a number of valuable works selected by several hotels and integrated resorts, including paintings, ceramics, sculptures and multimedia presentations, aiming at capturing the fascinating charm of contemporary visual arts in a diversified way. Significant works include “Shopping in Style”, on loan from the artist Stephane Bolongaro, an artwork courtesy of Galaxy Entertainment Group; “Untitled” by Thilo Heinzmann, an artwork courtesy of Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited; “Li Bai: Holding My Liquor Cup to Ask the Moon and Drinking Alone in Moonlight” by Wang Dongling, an artwork courtesy of MGM; “Prosperity” by Caroline Cheng, an artwork courtesy of Sands China Ltd.; “Coastal City (Qingdao)” (1975) by Wu Guanzhong, an artwork courtesy of Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, S.A. (SJM); “Spirit Totems” Series (1995-2017) by Herb Alpert, an artwork courtesy of Wynn Macau, Limited; and “Snow” (2012) by Gabrielle Wambaugh, an artwork courtesy of Nam Kwong (Group) Company Limited, among others.

In addition to the main exhibition at the Macao Museum of Art, Macao Contemporary Art Centre – Navy Yard No. 1, Old Court Building, Tap Seac Gallery, Exhibitions Gallery of Taipa Houses, as well as the hotels and integrated resorts are important exhibition spaces. A number of art installations will also be displayed at Mount Fortress Garden, Praça de Jorge Álvares, Taipa Houses and Art Plaza of Macao Cultural Centre, creating an artistic atmosphere in all corners of the city.

Admission to most activities of the first edition of “Art Macao” is free. For tickets and details, please visit the respective webpage at www.artmacao.mo, its official Instagram account “artmacao”, “IC Art” page on Facebook and WeChat account “ICmacao”.