The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) announced in a statement yesterday that due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, after “careful evaluation”, the government has decided to cancel the “Tap Seac Craft Market” originally scheduled for next month.
At the same time, the bureau vowed that it will actively “create favourable working conditions” for local cultural and creative practitioners by launching an open call for proposals for “Online Handicraft Teaching” to promote the development of Macau’s cultural and creative industries. Details of the plan will be announced in due course, the statement said.
According to the statement, the event held in April and November each year attracted 65,265 and 104,493 visitors in 2019 respectively.
The government decided to cancel the event scheduled for next month in order to reduce the risk of the COVID-19 epidemic spreading in the community and protect the safety of both the participants and the public, the statement said.
The bureau also vowed to assist local cultural and creative industries in getting through difficult times by introducing various supporting measures and plans, the statement said.
According to a previous government statement, the “Tap Seac Craft Market” was started in 2008 and has become a platform for cultural and creative practitioners to display and sell their products. The event in spring 2019 featured about 220 stalls, showcasing a diverse range of creative products by cultural and creative practitioners from Macau and Asian regions. Music performances and handicraft workshops were also held for the public concurrently.
This undated handout photo from the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) shows people visiting a previous “Tap Seac Craft Market”.
