The “21st Macao City Fringe Festival’’ opening ceremony was held yesterday afternoon at the sitting-out area in Rua Oito do Bairro Iao Hon. At the same time, the “Art Exhibition for All’’ opened in the space next to Flower City Park in Taipa.
Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) President Mok Ian Ian, along with representatives from different performance groups, attended the festival’s opening ceremony.
Mok said in her opening ceremony speech that the 12-day festival aims to take art out from conventional spaces and integrate it into residents’ daily lives. Moreover, Mok said that Iao Hon district is the place where Ao Ieong Pui San, the curator of the subtheme “Iao Hon” in the series “Crème de la Fringe”, spent her childhood. Mok pointed out that “Iao Hon ‘’ will reveal Ao Ieong’s memories about the neighbourhood.
Mok underlined that everyone is welcome to participate in the festival to “break down boundaries and embark on a new journey of discovery”. Mok added that the festival offers the opportunity to explore Macau.
According to a statement by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the festival is themed “Margin Break” and consists of more than 20 programmes and 15 outreach activities. The 20 programmes start today and will continue through this coming Sunday. Moreover, the festival aims to break through the limitations of space and distance to lead the audience into a diversified artistic experience, the statement said.
The statement noted that one of the performances, “Dancing Veins”, needed a special space for the performance. Therefore, the cloister and Yuqing Mansion of the Mandarin’s House will close from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
When asked by reporters on the sidelines of the festival’s opening ceremony about the festival possibly having to impose additional restrictions due to the growing COVID-19 cases in mainland provinces close to the city, Mok emphasised that the Cultural Affairs Burau follows the Health Bureau’s (SSM) guidelines and has set up the contact-tracing-function QR codes for participants to scan. Mok then noted that a performance group from Beijing said that having the opportunity to perform in Macau during the pandemic was “valuable”.
Another reporter asked about the bureau’s expectations of the festival being held in Iao Hon. Mok responded that the Cultural Affairs Bureau believed that art is a public event and everyone is welcome. Mok quickly added that the bureau strives to take art to every corner of Macau.
The statement added that the online registration for outreach activities can be made at www.icm.gov.mo/eform/event, while phone registration and enquiries can be done by calling 8399 6872 during office hours.
Information about the programmes can also be found by visiting www.macaucityfringe.gov.mo or “Macao City Fringe Festival” on Facebook.
Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) President Mok Ian Ian talks to reporters on the sidelines of yesterday’s opening ceremony for the 21st Macao City Fringe Festival in Rua Oito do Bairro Iao Hon.
Local residents and reporters gather around one of the exhibits near the sitting-out area in Rua Oito do Bairro Iao Hon yesterday after the opening ceremony for the 21st Macao City Fringe Festival’. Photos: Ula Cheang
