The 22nd Macao City Fringe Festival was launched yesterday at the Former Iec Long Firecracker Factory, featuring 17 programmes and a raft of outreach activities to January 28.
Organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), the festival’s opening ceremony was held yesterday at the Former Iec Long Firecracker Factory, which was attended by IC President Leong Wai Man, IC Vice President Cheang Kai Meng, IC Performing Arts Division Head Chan Shuk Mei, and representatives of art groups participating in this year’s Fringe Festival.
During yesterday’s ceremony, Leong said that more than 100 artistes of various ages from students to seniors are participating in the 12-day festival, hoping that the event can become a platform for local performers to “experiment” in art and promote the government’s plan to shape Macau as “City of Performing Arts”.
The participatory exhibition “Art Exhibition for All” was also inaugurated yesterday, followed by the launch of a range of programmes throughout the community, upholding the concept of “All around the city, our stages, our patrons, our artistes”, while introducing audiences from all walks of life to a wider range of artistic creations.
In addition, on the sidelines of yesterday’s ceremony, Leong said that the 2024 Macau International Parade is scheduled to take place on March 24 this year because there were a number of large-scale activities at the end of last year, adding that the bureau was planning to recruit 70 local and 20 foreign performance groups.
When answering journalists’ questions about the bureau’s other programmes, Leong noted that the bureau’s “Visiting the Ruins of St. Paul’s in Space and Time – Exhibition of Virtual Reality at the Ruins of St. Paul’s” will be extended to the end of the year, as the exhibition had recorded an attendance of nearly 60 to 70 percent on weekdays and as high as 90 percent on holidays.
Besides, Leong also noted that a series of special activities will be held in the city’s six old quarters during the Chinese New Year (CNY) next month.
Tickets for the 22nd Macao City Fringe Festival can be bought through the Macau Ticketing Network. One may call the 24-hour ticketing hotline on 2855 5555 or visit www.macauticket.com to purchase.
Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) President Leong Wai Man (eighth from right), IC Vice President Cheang Kai Meng (seventh from right), IC Performing Arts Division Head Chan Shuk Mei (third from right), and representatives of art groups participating in this year’s Fringe Festival pose during yesterday’s opening ceremony of the 22nd Macao City Fringe Festival at the Former Iec Long Firecracker Factory.
– Photo: Ginnie Liang
