‘Art Macao’ - Brand New Macao Cultural Tourism

Under the patronage of the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, and organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) and the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), the first edition of Art Macao was inaugurated on 6^thJune in the Art Plaza of Macao Cultural Centre, together with the opening of ‘Art Macao: International Art Exhibition’, the main exhibition at the Macao Museum of Art (MAM) on the same day. 

Art Macao - slated to run for half a year - features 41 large-scale events in 48 locations via a multimedia and art platform, breaking the limitations of space concepts to form an arts festival of unprecedented scale whilst presenting a new brand of cultural tourism of Macao to the world. 

The first edition of Art Macao was co-organised by the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau and Higher Education Bureau, Galaxy Entertainment Group, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd., MGM, Sands China Ltd., Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, S.A. (SJM), Wynn Macau, Ltd., Nam Kwong (Group) Co., Ltd. and various foreign consulates accredited in Hong Kong and Macao, which contributed to the programme with exhibitions, outdoor arts installations, concerts and youth festivals.

Art Macao also invited the several private partners co-organising the mega event to collaborate in the organisation of ‘Art Macao: International Art Exhibition’, this unique event’s highlight, mobilising human and spatial resources of the various participating entities and invoking the power of the arts from around the globe to encourage local artistic creation and the humanistic spirit of Macao. 

The theme of the first edition of the event - ‘Diversity’ - reflects the reality of social culture and artistic creation via crossover co-operation and presents the richness of styles and forms, connecting different cultures, expanding the artistic vision of the public, building a creative atmosphere and revealing the inclusiveness and generosity of Macao’s cultural connotations.

The main exhibition, showing in MAM, features a number of valuable works selected by several co-organising private partners, including paintings, ceramics, sculptures and multimedia presentations, all collectively seeking to capture the fascinating charm of contemporary visual arts in a diversified way. 

Significant works include Shopping in Style on loan from artist Stephane Bolongaro, courtesy of Galaxy Entertainment Group; Untitled by Thilo Heinzmann, courtesy of Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd.; Li Bai: Holding My Liquor Cup to Ask the Moon and Drinking Alone in the Moonlight by Wang Dongling, courtesy of MGM; Prosperity by Caroline Cheng, courtesy of Sands China Ltd.; Coastal City (Qingdao)(1975) by Wu Guanzhong, courtesy of SJM; Spirit Totems Series (1995-2017) by Herb Alpert, courtesy of Wynn Macau, Ltd.; and Snow (2012) by Gabrielle Wambaugh, courtesy of Nam Kwong (Group) Company Ltd., among others.

In addition to the main exhibition venue,  the Macao Museum of Art, other exhibition spaces are the Macao Contemporary Art Centre - Navy Yard No. 1, Old Court Building, Tap Seac Gallery, Exhibitions Gallery of Taipa Houses, as well as designated areas in several hotels and integrated resorts. A number of art installations  are also  on display  in 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 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’.