Mega Event ‘Art Macao’ Creates New Cultural Tourism Brand

Under the patronage of the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) and Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and co-organised by the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Higher Education Bureau, the mega international arts and culture event Art Macao runs from June to October.

The event - featuring 40 programmes, including exhibitions and large-scale performances and International Youth Festivals - will be held in 44 venues throughout the city. Co-organised with several hotels and integrated resorts, foreign consulates, and  academic institutions, the arts event offers a ‘happening’ of unprecedented scale characterised by new artistic and cultural experiences for residents and visitors alike.

Grand opening of Art Macao in June

Art Macao was preceded in April by a series of outstanding exhibitions destined to evoke a highly refined classic aesthetic. The exhibition Italian Renaissance Drawings from the British Museum presents 52 drawings by 42 Italian Renaissance masters of the 15^th and 16^th Centuries, while Beauty in the New Era - Masterpieces from the Collection of the National Art Museum of China features nearly 90 works by modern and contemporary masters.

Reminiscences of the Silk Road - Exhibition of Cultural Relics of the Western Xia Dynasty unveils the mysteries of the history and culture of the Western Xia, with some exhibits presented outside of Ningxia for the first time, making this a rare opportunity for the public to appreciate these world heritage treasures.

Art Macao - to be inaugurated on 6^th June together with the opening of Art Macao: International Art Exhibition - showcases the main exhibition at the Macao Museum of Art with a number of valuable works selected by several hotels and integrated resorts, including paintings, ceramics, sculptures, interactive installations and multimedia presentations capturing the fascinating charm of contemporary visual arts in a diversified manner.

Local hotels, enterprises co-host mega art exhibitions

In support of this large-scale international event, under the auspices of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam, the signing ceremony of the co-operation agreement of Art Macao was held at a press conference on 28^th May between the management representatives of six hotels and integrated resorts, and representatives of the Macao SAR, IC President Mok Ian Ian, and MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes. The agreement represents a milestone in the cultural development of Macao.

During Art Macao several hotels and integrated resorts will organise multiple art exhibitions. Galaxy Entertainment Group presents Grace Kelly: From Hollywood to Monaco - Artists’ Tributes recounting the fairytale story of Oscar-winning actress Grace Kelly’s (1929-1982) transformation into Princess of Monaco, acting in the process as the muse for artists inspired by her, in conjunction with over 100 exhibits from the palace collection of the Prince of Monaco.

Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited presents Unexpected Encounters, featuring masterpieces by renowned contemporary artists from the impressive art collection owned by City of Dreams, demonstrating how contemporary art abandoned traditional forms of artistic expression and techniques to gradually liberate and evolve into something new.

MGM presents Hua Yuan to reveal new developments in the art of ink painting through the presentation of works by contemporary artists, including large-scale multimedia installation A Metamorphosis: No End to End by Ma Wen, digital landscape painting Journey to the Dark II by Yang Yongliang, and new one-act opera Paradise Interrupted presenting the essence of Chinese culture and art.  

Meanwhile, Sands China Ltd. presents All that’s Gold does Glitter - An Exhibition of Glamorous Ceramics curated by internationally acclaimed ceramic artist Caroline Cheng, featuring over 90 masterpieces by 27 first-class ceramic artists.

Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, S.A. (SJM) presents ART．Appreciation．Legacy in a celebration of cultural heritage as seen through the prism of art expressed by seven exceptional and multidimensional exhibitions in various locations every month from June to October.

Wynn - Garden of Earthly Delights at Wynn Macau, Limited presents an extraordinary selection of modern and contemporary art pieces by several renowned artists for the first time in Macao, taking the public on a journey into a world of innovation and creativity via paintings, installations and digital art pieces.

Nam Kwong (Group) Co., Ltd. presents Interspace featuring works by famous French sculptor Gabrielle Wambaugh reflecting the integration of space and art.

The consulates of Japan, Italy, Hungary, Belgium and Portugal will also organise unique art exhibitions in Macao, while the 2^nd Annual Arts Exhibition between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries opening in July will present a diverse and innovative cultural experience.

Performing art, in phases

A number of events will be presented in phases, including the highlights of the  concert season by Macao Orchestra and Macao Chinese Orchestra, International Youth Dance Festival, International Youth Music Festival, International Youth Drama Festival, Growing with the SAR Activity Series for the 20^th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao SAR - Visual Arts Exhibitions of Macao Higher Education Institutions; contemporary dance production Under Siege by Yang Liping; Haojiang Moonlight Night Dance Drama Thangka; Love Road at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf; and 2019! Out Loud Street Art Festival, bringing the arts closer to the community by encouraging the participation of people from all walks of life.

Admission to most activities 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’.