“Culture has been registered as the soft power for Macao’s development. Meanwhile, culture has always been a business card for Macao to embrace the world., whenever it is from the strategic goal of building a world-class tourism and leisure center to the mission of constructing a base for exchange and cooperation where Chinese culture is the mainstream and diverse cultures coexist.” said Mok Lanlan, president of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR government, who underscored the significance of culture to Macao. Ever since its return to the motherland, Macao has seen steady progress in cultural course. To this end, it has become the best way of hailing the motherland and delivering wishes to Macao to host cultural events.
Macao has made remarkable achievements in culture since its return to the motherland.
With the support of the central government, the “Historic Centre of Macao” was inscribed on the United Nations (UN) World Heritage List in 2005, making it the 31st world cultural heritage in China. In 2009, the Cantonese Opera was enlisted into the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity with the joint application of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. In 2017, the collection of “Chapas Sínicas” (official records of Macao during the Qing Dynasty (1693-1886)), jointly nominated by the Archives of Macao, under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, and the National Archive of Torre do Tombo of Portugal, was successfully listed as the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.
Macao has various cultural festivals and colourful activities throughout the year. Some large-scale events and city festivals, such as “Macao Arts Festival”, “Macao International Music Festival”, “Macao City Fringe Festival”, “HUSH! Beach Concert”, “Encounter in Macao-Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” and “Macao International Parade”, have gained much popularity in the world. Moreover, annual concerts by Macao Orchestra and Macao Chinese Orchestra, wonderful programme and performances in Macao Cultural Center, and cultural and art exhibitions held in cultural institutions and museums like Macao Museum and Macao Museum of Art, have nurtured cultural soil for local citizens and tourists to improve their artistic appreciation.
According to Mok Lanlan, the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Macao has organized more than 700 performances and festivals and over 2000 cultural exhibitions and relevant activities with nearly 10 million people involved in 2018. The colourful cultural events enrich the cultural life of local residents and outbound visitors.
It is said that the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Macao has geared for a series of events, including performances, exhibitions and lectures, in order to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland. While the inauguration of a cultural venue is extraordinarily special in comparison.
On November 23rd, Xian Xinghai Memorial Museum, located at Rua de Francisco Xavier Pereira, is formally inaugurated with the unveiling of the bronze statue of the musician during the ceremony. The museum commemorated the great Macao-born musician Xian Xinghai, “son of Macao”, through the introduction of his life, artistic achievements and contributions during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. A total of 36 sets of manuscripts and belongings from the collection of the Library of Chinese National Academy of Arts, ranging from identity certificates, manuscripts, violin, diary, letters, a fountain pen and a concert suit jacket, will be exhibited for three months.
In order to facilitate its inauguration, the Macao Cultural Affairs Bureau will launch the illustration book Music Road of Xian Xinghai (Chinese version) for local children and their parents on December 20th. The book takes the theme of the growth, education and music career of Xian Xinghai, with a number of creative and interactive games designed for children to learn about the musician and the motherland in an interesting way.
Besides, Xian Xinghai’s classic work, The Yellow River Cantata, jointly performed by the Macao Orchestra, the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) Orchestra and Choir, has been staged at the 31st Macao International Music Festival (MIMF) as a start-up programme in October. This team will also perform The Yellow River Cantata in Beijing and the Piano Concerto The Yellow River in Zhuhai to commemorate the greatest composer Xian Xinghai and celebrate the 20th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland.
On December 17th, the Macao Museum of Art, under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, and the Palace Museum co-hosted an unprecedented large-scale exhibition named “The Long Journey: The Forbidden City and Maritime Silk Road” to resume a new chapter for future cooperation.
Since it’s return 20 years ago, Macao has witnessed in-depth exchanges and cooperation among cultural institutions and museums, art entities and individuals. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 20th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland, Macao and the mainland work proactively to organize many colourful cultural events to hail the motherland and deliver best wishes to Macao.
In order to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Department of Society and Culture of the MSAR government co-organized the “Root and Soul-The Exhibition of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Zhejiang Province 2019”, allowing local residents to have a close encounter with Zhejiang’s intangible culture, enhance cultural exchanges between Zhejiang and Macao, nourish the “root” of Chinese culture and safeguard its “soul”. At the same time, a group of famous Beijing opera actors, including Yu Kuizhi and Li Shengsu, made their trips to Macao to launch large-scale Peking opera performances for three consecutive nights and hold lectures as well, offering Macao’s audience a vibrant and charming national treasure.
The “Beauty in the New Era: Masterpieces from the Collection of the National Art Museum of China” was co-hosted by the Macao Museum of Art (MAM) and the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) in order to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 20th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland. Nearly 90 pieces of masterpieces of notable artists, including Qi Baishi, Fu Baoshi and Li Keran, were selected to demonstrate the history of Chinese art. The Macao Cultural Affairs Bureau also participated in the “Fusion-Exhibition of Artworks of Macao Artists 2019” with the works of Macao artists, displaying Macao’s artistic level and results over the past 20 years. .
A special documentary exhibition for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 20th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland was held by Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Macao, Macao Provincial Association of Friendship for Members of the China People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and National Library of China. Around one hundred precious documents, such as the photo of the first plenary secession of the CPPCC from China National Library, Macao records in Guangxu period (1875-1908), and other previous photos published in 1876, were on display to encourage teenagers to have a better understanding of history, spur a strong sense of national identity and belonging, and carry forward the spirit of loving the motherland and loving Macao.