Message
Macao is a brilliant gem created from the convergence and integration of Chinese and Western cultures over centuries. The evolution of the city’s unique development has contributed to its distinctive cultural landscape and its illustrious reputation as a World Heritage city.
The abundant historical and cultural resources inject vitality into the sustainable development of Macao’s cultural undertakings and cultural industries, as well as giving vigorous support and confidence to the establishment of Macao as “a base for exchange and cooperation with Chinese culture as the mainstream and the coexistence of different cultures”. The cultural exchange between China and Portuguese-speaking countries is an integral component in Macao’s history and continues to extend its influence to the present day. Since its launch in 2018, the Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries has formed a regular annual exchange mechanism which gathers the cultural and artistic essence from different countries and regions through a wide range of activities, opening a new chapter in the history of intercivilizational dialogue between cultures of the two major language systems in Macao.
At the Festival, Macao invites artists from different circles every year to hold various cultural and artistic activities in urban districts featured with characteristics of Chinese and Portuguese cultures, with the aim of nurturing cultural diversity and enriching the spirit of humanity. The Festival has gradually become a splendid celebration for cultural exchange, which allows the city to fully leverage its role as an exchange platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries while also thriving from the cultural dialogue and constantly strengthening its cultural power.
I would like to wish all success to the 4th “Encounter in Macao – Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” and extend my sincere gratitude to all participating artists and representatives of China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, residents and tourists. I hope everyone will forge precious friendships and gain inspiration from the exchange as we build a better future together.
Ao Ieong U
Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government
Preface
Over the past four centuries, Macao has been the bridge that connects Chinese and Western cultures, gathering and integrating multiple cultures that contribute to its unique cultural landscape.
The exchange and interaction between Chinese and Portuguese cultures pervade daily life in Macao with unchanged vitality. To many tourists, the city’s major appeal lies in the integration of Chinese and Western cultures and the harmonious blend of the past and the present. People can stroll around the old district as if being in a theme park that features the essence of both Chinese and Portuguese cultures.
The ‘Encounter in Macao – Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries’ is an important event dedicated to extending and strengthening the cultural exchange among the countries. The festival was held concurrently with the long-standing ‘Lusofonia Festival’ in 2021, which increased the breadth and depth of exchange more effectively. This year, we are organising the festival according to the ‘theme park’ model as we strive to manifest the cultural appeal of the two language systems through a series of activities including ‘Chinese and Portuguese Picture Book Fair’, ‘China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Film Festival’ and ‘Traditional Music and Dance Performance in the Community’, in the hope of creating a theme park of Sino-Portuguese cultural encounter.
With this year marking its 25th anniversary, the Lusofonia Festival will focus on displaying the Macanese culture and highlight the history of how the Portuguese-speaking countries’ cultures travelled across the ocean and settled in the city through a number of activities including Patuá performances by local Macanese associations and a Macanese gastronomy show. Furthermore, mainland and local Portuguese-speaking art groups will bring fervent traditional music and dance performances to the community, promoting the performing arts and cultural vitality of China and Portuguese-speaking countries to every corner of the city.
Themed ‘All Rivers Flow into the Sea’, the 4th China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Film Festival highlights the spirit of inclusion, mutual understanding and pioneering spirit that have been manifested over the course of cultural exchange between China and Portuguese-speaking countries and regions. The Film Festival will present many selected films from China and Portuguese-speaking countries and offer the audience a more vivid experience through outdoor screenings, post-screening seminars and film talks.
To expand the reach of cultural exchange, the Chinese and Portuguese Picture Book Fair will be specially held this year at the Carmo Hall next to the Taipa Houses to engage more parents and children in cross-lingual cultural exchange and facilitate the production and publication of relevant works. In addition, activities such as parent-child reading sessions, talks and workshops will also be held to extend the festival’s influence.
To enrich the festive experience, the Lusofonia Festival also features a wine tasting experience organised once again by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies and outdoor film screenings at the Amphitheatre in addition to the regular featured booths, dance and music performances, exhibitions and games. With these activities, the event aims to create a theme park of Sino-Portuguese cultural encounter with leisurely vibes and attract residents and tourists of different ages and preferences to participate and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
In Macao, a theme park of Sino-Portuguese cultural encounter, let us immerse ourselves into the cultures and artistic experiences and share in the joy together.
Leong Wai Man
President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government
ABOUT THIS FESTIVAL
Macao, a Theme Park of Sino-Portuguese Cultural Encounter
Founded in 2018, the “Encounter in Macao – Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”, stepping into its 4th edition, has established itself as an attractive annual event, forming a mechanism for regular exchange between China and Portuguese-speaking countries in Macao, and continuously reinforcing the establishment of Macao as a “Cultural Exchange Centre between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”.
The Lusofonia Festival will once again be integrated in the 4th “Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”, bringing a strong Sino-Portuguese festive atmosphere in the Taipa Houses in late October. In addition to various stands, culinary delights, music and dance performances will also be presented, in celebration of the silver jubilee of the Lusofonia Festival. With the concept of “theme park” adapted to this year’s Festival, diverse activities associated with the theme including the Chinese and Portuguese Picture Book Fair, outdoor film screenings and a wine tasting will be held at various venues, attracting the participation of residents and tourists, enriching the cultural experience and building the city into a theme park of Sino-Portuguese cultural encounter. In November, the “Traditional Music and Dance Performance in the Community” and the “China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Film Festival” will be held in different districts of Macao, in an effort to integrate art into our daily lives and share the splendid moment of Sino-Portuguese cultural exchange.
Taking culture as link and art as the medium, let’s meet at the Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries this autumn.