Organized by the Macao Museum of Art (MAM), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the award ceremony for the “Open Call for Artworks of Macao Artists 2019”, was held on 26 October, at the MAM Auditorium. The ceremony was officiated by the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Mok Ian Ian; the Head of the Department of Exhibitions and Museums of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Lei Lai Kio; and the Acting Director of MAM, Leong Sek Min, who congratulated and presented the awards to the winning artists.

To celebrate the 20^th anniversary of Macao’s Handover to China and the 20^th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Museum of Art, the Macao Museum of Art and the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) co-organized the exhibition “Beauty in the New Era: Masterpieces from the Collection of the National Art Museum of China” in May this year, followed by the exhibition “Fusion – Exhibition of Artworks of Macao Artists 2019” in November at NAMOC in Beijing as a joint collaboration. A total of 220 entries were received from 148 applicants during the open submission of the exhibition. After the rigorous selection by the jury, three Jury Awards, seven Distinction Awards and 66 pieces (sets) of shortlisted works were selected. Jury Award winners include Tam Chon Kit, Lam Un Mei and Xu Lingzhi; and Distinction Award winners include Chong Kim Seng, Ieong Weng Kuong, Lou Shaoyi, Ho Pan, Gu Yue, Mak Kuong Weng, and Leung Tat Hong

During the award ceremony, the officiating guests awarded certificates to the winning artists and the artists of shortlisted works. .The artists who attended the ceremony expressed that they were honoured to participate in this exhibition, hoping to present their artworks with a taste of Macao to the audience in Beijing.

The exhibition “Fusion – Exhibition of Artworks of Macao Artists 2019” will be inaugurated on 8 November at NAMOC in Beijing and is held until 30 November this year. Themed “fusion” the exhibition features 76 pieces (sets) of artworks by 68 Macao artists in three categories, including Chinese painting and calligraphy, Western painting, and 3D & cross-multi art, highlighting Macao’s historical role as a facilitator of Chinese and Western cultural integration, representing its urban characteristics and culture and showcasing Macao artists’ creations and the SAR Government’s achievements in fostering cultural and artistic development to the Mainland audience.