The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) will reopen the “Village of Our Lady in Ka Ho” in Coloane (九澳聖母村開幕展), a former leprosarium, this Saturday, which will display “Land of Hope – Historical Archives Exhibition on Leprosariums in Macao” (澳門痳瘋病院舍歷史檔案展) at the Macau Archives (AM).
According to an IC statement, the bureau had been working on the area’s restoration and revitalisation since 2013. The statement noted that the five houses in the village had been left empty for years and damaged due to ageing. The statement said that structural consolidations and improvement have been completed under the bureau’s guidance. The statement underlined that the Village of Our Lady in Ka-Ho, the former recreation room in the old activity centre and the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows are on Macau’s List of Classified Immovable Cultural Heritage.
The statement also pointed out that the exhibition aims to highlight the restoration work of heritage buildings to the public, and broaden the public’s understanding of the village. The exhibition at the former activity centre and in an adjacent house will display nearly 100 documents from the collections of the Macau Archives.
The statement pointed out that a number of talks will be held during the exhibition period. According to the statement, the first talk will start at 15:30 p.m. this Saturday. The statement also said that there will be a shuttle bus service for registered participants on that day leaving at 2:30 p.m. outside the Macau Archives in Praça do Tap Seac. The statement noted that the exhibition’s prints will be sold for 190 patacas each, but there will be discounts offered this Saturday.
The statement also said that the permanent exhibition in the village will start on Saturday, which will be open daily except on Wednesdays. The statement noted that the exhibition at the Macau Archives will also open on the same day but only run until May 6 next year. It will open daily except on Mondays and public holidays. Both exhibitions will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
According to the statement, the bureau will closely monitor the development of the COVID-19 pandemic, and follow guidelines of the Health Bureau (SSM) and implement appropriate measures accordingly. All visitors must wear a facemask, show their Macau Health Codes and have their temperature checked.
For enquiries and information, visit the website http://www.archives.gov.mo, “IC Art” page on Facebook or its official WeChat account “IC_Art_Macao”.
IC poster promoting the upcoming Village of Our Lady in Ka Ho exhibition
Undated file photo of a house in the Village of Our Lady in Ka Ho
