Locals will account for over half of the performance groups participating in the upcoming 34th Macao Arts Festival (MAF), Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) President Leong Wai Man said yesterday.
Leong also said that the festival will be held from May 3 to June 7, with a total budget of about 24.9 million patacas, 2.9 million patacas more than last year.
Leong made the remarks during a press conference at MGM COTAI announcing the festival. She said that the overall budget was similar to that of 2019. Leong said the increased budget was mainly due the additional expenditure of hosting non-local performers in Macau.
According to Leong, the theme of this year’s Festival is “Wondrous Encounters”, presenting a total of 80 performances and 23 outreach activities covering theatre, opera, dance, music, and visual arts. Tickets will go on sale on Saturday March 23.
Leong said it was more difficult to invite overseas performers last year when the number was lower than usual due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, she said, the bureau has invited more artistes from different countries and regions to participate in this year’s event, with 10 groups and projects from the mainland and several foreign countries, while locals participating in the festival acount for over 50 percent of the total number of performing groups.
Leong also said that this year’s MAF introduces “the best” works of art from different countries, and a number of works presenting “fantastical” storytelling and audio-visual effects, interpreting classic stories in an innovative way, which she believed would widen spectators’ horizons and enhance their taste for art.
Leong also said she hoped that through the programme, spectators would be able to learn about the artistic creations of different regions and nationalities, enhance their knowledge and understanding of multiculturalism, as well as review and appreciate the latest achievements of local arts groups on stage, and at the same time promote Macau as a “City of Performing Arts”.
For more information, visit the MAF’s official website at https://www.icm.gov.mo/fam/34/cn/.
This undated handout file photo provided by the Macau Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) yesterday shows a performance at one of the festival’s previous editions.
