Tap Siac Craft Market in Praça do Tap Seac, which opened yesterday, has over 130 stalls and will be running for two weekends.
Tap Siac is the alternative spelling for Tap Seac.
The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) said in a statement yesterday that in alignment with the “Culture and Tourism Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA)”, every year the bureau hosts the Tap Siac Craft Market, the largest platform in Macau for displaying and selling cultural and creative products.
IC President Leong Wai Man said at the opening ceremony yesterday evening that her bureau plans to promote Macau’s cultural image as a creative and diverse city by assisting Macau’s handicraft practitioners in getting into the GBA market.
According to the statement provided during the opening ceremony, the market has been extended to four days per week for two consecutive weeks, covering over 130 stalls that sell a range of cultural and creative products, such as daily necessities, handicrafts, clothing and accessories, as well as handmade products. She also noted that 23 of the stalls are being run by mainlanders.
The statement added that a range of activities such as creative handicraft workshops and music performances by local and mainland musicians will be held during the craft market.
The statement noted that the Tap Siac Craft Market is open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays in Praça do Tap Seac.
The statement underlined that as the bureau strictly abides by Health Bureau’s (SSM) prevention and control guidelines, participants and visitors must wear a facemask, undergo a temperature check and present a valid Health Code, maintain social distancing and follow on-site measures.
Leong speaks out against cultural heritage vandalism
Meanwhile, reporters asked on the sidelines of yesterday’s event whether there is any follow up to the recent vandalism at the Ruins of St. Paul’s UNESCO World Heritage site. Leong answered that as the case is still under investigation, she could not disclose any more information. She said that the bureau has discovered that there is even more graffiti on buildings near the St. Paul’s Ruins, which could lead others to commit similar offences by drawing graffiti on cultural heritage sites. She pointed out that the bureau would consult the property owners of the surrounding buildings to see if they are willing to remove the graffiti from their walls.
Leong said that after investigation, the bureau will follow up on removing the graffiti, stressing that it would “not be a difficult task”. She also pointed out that the bureau will continue to promote the importance of cultural heritage protection on different platforms, such as leaflets and in mainland media. She added that the bureau has been organising different kinds of awareness activities to protect Macau’s cultural heritage, pointing out that graffiti on cultural heritage sites is illegal.
Leong also said that a centre to monitor cultural heritage sites will be set up soon by her bureau to collect data about heritage sites from all over the world, as well as to monitor Macau’s cultural heritage. Leong urged local citizens to inform her bureau about any illegal activities such as graffiti affecting the city’s cultural heritage sites.
Mainland band EXCUSE ME performs during yesterday evening’s opening ceremony of Tap Siac Craft Market in Spring.
People visit the craft market shortly after yesterday evening’s opening ceremony.
Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) President Leong Wai Man talks to reporter in Tap Seac Square after yesterday evening’s opening ceremony.
