In order to celebrate the International Museum Day on 18 May, 14 museums in Macao co-organize the great annual event of the museum sector, the “Macao International Museum Day Carnival 2021”. The opening ceremony was held on 9 May, at 3pm, at the Convention Center of the Macao Science Center, followed by the awarding ceremony of the photography contest “Revelation from the Epidemic” and dance performance. The event was held in a lively atmosphere, featuring a wide range of intriguing activities, including game booths, workshops, lectures and drama guided tours, which attracted residents into active participation.
The opening ceremony was attended by the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, Mok Ian Ian; the Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office of the Macao SAR Government, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; the Deputy Head of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province, Zeng Yingru; the Deputy Commissioner of the Fire Services Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, Kong Iat Fu; the Chief Curator of the Communications Museum, Wong Kam Ian; the Director of the Maritime Museum, Sit Kai Sin; the Deputy Curator of the Macao Science Center, Sylvester Cheong Hung Fat; the Vice President of the Lin Zexu Memorial Museum of Macao, Kong Weng Heng; and the Member of the Tung Sin Tong Charitable Society, Choi Meng Wai. Assistant Director of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong S.A.R. Government, Eve Tam Mei-yee, also participated in the opening ceremony via video.
The theme set by the International Council of Museums for this year’s International Museum Day is “The Future of Museums: Recover and Reimagine”. Under the impact of the global pandemic, museums are facing unprecedented challenges but are still upholding their original mission of providing cultural experience and serving the public. By using different methods and media, museums seek to deepen their relationship with the community and cross social barriers.
On the day of the Carnival, the museums host a rich variety of activities and DIY craft workshops, including Plaster Model Car Painting, Non-fired Ceramic Tile Painting Workshop, Tak Seng On Accessories DIY Workshop, Kalimba DIY Workshop, Workshop of Wooden Accessory Box Decoration with Matchbox Label Stickers, Family-child Workshop “Dancing Pillarbox”, Tung Sin Tong Mosaic Music Box Workshop, Deep Sea Elf Workshop, Demonstration Program, and Drama Guided Tour “Pursuit in Deep Sea – Can We Have Sustainable Oceans?”, the Game of “Gates of Pearl River” and Tactile Experience Tour, allowing participants to gain knowledge through the activities. In addition, the organizers invited the Guangdong Museum, Guangzhou Museum and Shenzhen Museum to participate in the event and to set up booths at the activity venues. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong also takes part in the Carnival, displaying publications at on-site booths and through online means. The Deputy Director of the Guangdong Museum, Chen Shaofeng, hosts a lecture on “Museums under the Pandemic”. In May, the museums also hold other celebratory activities, exhibitions, workshops, guided tours and lectures, and are open to the public at designated times for free. For registration methods and details, please visit the “Museums in Macao” website (www.museums.gov.mo), follow the WeChat official account of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, or contact the Bureau through tel. no. 8988 4000 during office hours.
The Macao International Museum Day Carnival 2021 is jointly organized by the Macao Grand Prix Museum, Tung Sin Tong Historical Archive Exhibition Hall, Heritage Exhibition of a Traditional Pawnshop Business, Fire Services Museum, Maritime Museum, Communications Museum, Museum of Taipa and Coloane History, Handover Gifts Museum of Macao, Lin Zexu Memorial Museum of Macao, Macao Science Center, Macao Museum, Macao Museum of Art, Xian Xinghai Memorial Museum and Taipa Houses. The museums will strictly follow the relevant guidelines of the Health Bureau to ensure effective epidemic prevention. All participants must wear face masks, undergo body temperature checks, present a “Macao Health Code” of the day and comply with the crowd control measures.