The fifth edition of the “Encounter in Macau – Arts and Cultural Festival between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries”, organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) and supported by the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM), local broadcaster Teledifusão de Macau (TDM) and the Macau Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) as well as local flag carrier Air Macau, will be held from October 27 through December.
A promotional event was held on Saturday at Taipa Houses, where the organisers presented an overview of the campaign’s contents. The event was attended by IC President Leong Wai Man, MGTO Acting Director Cheng Wai Tong, IAM Cultural and Recreational Affairs and Civic Education Department Chief Patsy Ko Pui San, TDM Executive Committee Chairman Lorman Lo Song Man, Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) Chief Financial Officer Ted Chan Yin Tat and SJM Resorts Chief Operating Officer Ben Toh Hup Hock.
According to an IC statement, the event aims to encourage “mutual learning among civilisations” and enhance pluralistic dialogues. The statement said that the event would include a total of seven series of activities, namely the “2023 GEG Lusofonia Festival”, the “Annual Arts Exhibition between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries”, the “China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries Film Festival”, a Portuguese fado concert, the “Chinese and Portuguese Picture Book Fair”, “Traditional Music and Dance Performance in the Community”, and wine tasting workshops, with the participation of nearly 600 artists and performers.
Leong said in her opening remarks that she hoped the festival would further the cultural and artistic exchanges between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, and leverage the bridging role of Macau as “a base for exchange and cooperation where diverse cultures coexist with Chinese culture as the mainstream”.
At the event, Leong also announced that the campaign’s first activity, the “2023 GEG Lusofonia Festival” will be held from October 27-29 at Taipa Houses, featuring a combination of music, cuisines, handicrafts and traditional costumes of the Portuguese-speaking countries as well as the local Macanese communities. She also announced that public artworks will be displayed starting from mid-December at two revitalised historical sites including the erstwhile Iec Long Firecracker Factory and Lai Chi Vun Shipyards.
More information about the agenda of the “Arts and Cultural Festival between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries” is available at the thematic website: www.icm.gov.mo/FCP.
Government officials and guests pose for a group photo during the promotional event of the “Encounter in Macau – Arts and Cultural Festival between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries” at Taipa Houses last Saturday, including IC President Leong Wai Man (first row, centre) and MGTO Acting Director Cheng Wai Tong (first row, fourth from left). – Photo: IC
