The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) hosted its “Culture on Your Doorstep” flash mobs at 14 local neighbourhoods over the weekend – and two parents told reporters yesterday in Praça das Orquídeas (蘭花前地) in Fai Chi Kei district they hope that the bureau could organise more similar cultural activities outdoors in the community, while IC President Deland Leong Wai Man remarked that the results of the event had exceeded all expectations, with the number of participants for just half a day’s event already surpassing the initial estimate of about 10,000 for the two days, adding that the future planning of related activities would be gradually carried out after a review of the recently concluded event.
Centred on the two themes of “Read in More Places” and “Music in More Places”, the bureau’s first “Culture on Your Doorstep” event was held from 10 a.m. to noon and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 14 community venues in the Macau peninsula, Taipa and Coloane on Saturday and Sunday. Amongst them, under the theme of “Read in More Places”, the bureau said in a statement, the community spaces were transformed into storytelling corners aimed at cultivating children’s reading habits and fostering parent-child relationships through storytelling, singing and interactive games, while under the theme of “Music in More Places”, the Macao Orchestra, Macao Chinese Orchestra and the bureau’s Macao Conservatory performed in the community, allowing residents to experience the passion and vibrancy of music up close.
Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Wallis O Lam, accompanied by Leong and Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, visited the Praça das Orquídeas (“Orchid Square”) sitting-out area at 4 p.m. yesterday, where they enjoyed music performances and storytelling with the residents.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of her visit yesterday afternoon, Leong said she believed that the number of participants in the two-day event would reach 15,000, adding that different to the past practice of organising activities in large community spaces, the 16 sessions of music and reading cultural flash mobs held in 14 locations over two consecutive days aimed to bring culture directly to residents’ doorsteps through a wider range of activities to engage them at their leisure.
Leong said: “The feedback we have received from the public so far has been positive”, pointing out that organising activities in the community is the bureau’s goal for this year, adding: “We hope that similar ‘Culture on Your Doorstep’ events will continue”, with future activities possibly varying in content, “or incorporating intangible cultural heritage and drama performances”.
Depending on the effectiveness of the event over this past weekend, relevant planning will be carried out gradually in the future, according to Leong.
The event attracted a lot of parents and their children to participate, participants described the scene as “very lively”. A resident, surnamed Lam, told reporters the event was “quite wonderful” but also “rare”, saying that the community activities allowed both children and adults to have different experiences, as in the past cultural activities were seldom held outdoors in the community, primarily taking place in libraries and other large-scale indoor venues.
Another resident, surnamed Wong, said she hoped that the bureau would step up its efforts in promoting and sustaining community activities in the local neighbourhoods, instead of confining them to a specific area such as a large-scale venue.
Parents and their kids listen to a music performance and attend a storytelling session at the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s (IC) “Culture on Your Doorstep” flash mob in Praça das Orquídeas in Fai Chi Kei district yesterday. – Photos: Yuki Lei
Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) President Deland Leong Wai Man speaks to reporters on the sidelines of yesterday’s visit to Praça das Orquídeas.
Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Wallis O Lam (standing behind, third from right), accompanied by IC President Deland Leong Wai Man (standing behind, second from right) and Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes (standing behind, fourth from right) enjoy yesterday’s storytelling during their visit to Praça das Orquídeas.
