MANILA, Philippines - Whether you like performing or visual arts, Macau is the place to be this May. The 21st Macau Arts Festival is ongoing until May 29.
With over 70 performances by 25 acts from 20 different countries, the event promises to be as culturally diverse and exciting as the host city.
The program brings together theater, dance, music, circus, multimedia and visual arts. It also features Cantonese opera, officially inscribed in 2009 on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, through the joint efforts of the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau governments.
The month-long festival reaffirms Macau’s status as a window to the latest creative trends to emerge on stages the world over, and is an opportunity to showcase the vibrant spirit of performers from Macau, as its artists get the opportunity to debut works reflecting the region’s own performing arts scene.
Most of the events are held at the famous Dom Pedro V Theater and at the Macao Cultural Center.
Participating countries include Portugal, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Finland, Peru, Cuba, United States, Canada and Australia.
One of the highlights of the festival is the 2010 Macau Arts Exhibition at the Tap Seac Gallery where more than a hundred works by Macau artists are on display including traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy, seal-engraving, photography, sculpture, poster design, video and installation.
The festival also includes workshops and conferences that aim to stimulate public interest in the arts.
Another unique feature of the month-long event is that rehearsals for some of the performances are open to the public in accordance with a long-standing Macau Arts Festival tradition.
For more information, visit the website of the Macau Cultural Affairs Bureau at www.icm.gov.mo/fam or call (853) 8399 6699. Online reservations may be made at www.macauticket.com.