The Cultural Institute of the Macao S.A.R. Government has held a major visual arts exhibition as part of the Macao Arts Festival every year since its formation. Each successive exhibition has attracted greater attention and participation from the local community. The large
amount of outstanding art works and new talents gathered in the exhibitions has enabled it to become a symbol representing the level and movement of visual arts in Macao. To take a step further in encouraging the creation of visual arts and for unearthing new local
talents, we will name the exhibition officially “Macao Annual Art Exhibition” from 2005.

Macao’s distinguishing culture is the spring of our society’s development. In addition to protecting our precious historic cultural resources, we have to take full advantage of our humanistic spirit to enlighten both society and mind, and to enable them to become the spiritual wealth of every Macao resident.

Currently, the “Historic Monuments of Macao” has been earmarked as China’s priority in applying for World Cultural Heritage listing. With “Macao’s Cultural Heritage – Beyond History” as its theme, this year’s FAM exhibition aims at exploring the broader connotations of “Macao’s Cultural Heritage”, allowing us to reconsider our responsibilities in this historic mission while promoting Macao’s historic culture to the community.

Macao has experienced 400 years of cultural blending. Today “beyond history”, Macao declares to the world its openness to different races, cultures, religions and histories. Most significantly, a broad mind and vision resulting from the mutual learning in this Sino-western context serves as a precious, lasting cultural resource. We are glad to see from this year’s entries more creativity, mature techniques and a broader range of media than in previous years, displaying local artists’ keen senses and Macao’s characteristics as a multicultural region.

The successful organization of this exhibition was made possible in large part by the participation of individuals from the local art community, as well as the support of several exceptional individuals in different countries and regions. I wish to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to this year’s judges – Dong Xiao Ming, Yu Chang, Chen Hsien Tung, Tommy Lee and David Miller, as well as to all the participants and coordinators.

Heidi Ho
President
Cultural Institute of the Macao S.A.R. Government