Arts Festival | Asian programs increased, budget reduced

The 29th Macao Arts Festival (MAF), organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), will be held from April 27 to May 31. The IC announced the program at a press conference yesterday. This year’s edition, themed Origin, has a budget of MOP22 million, which equates to one million less than last year.

According to the organizers, the program symbolizes the “spring of life,” and explores a wide range of topics designed to broaden the audiences’ reflections about life, spurring the audiences to recall the core meaning of life through different artistic manifestations.

The 29th MAF comprises a total of 26 programs in seven categories, such as “Family Entertainment,” “Quintessence of Tradition” and “Melodious Music.” It gathers productions from mainland China, Macau, and abroad, as well as a program aimed at promoting arts in the community. In total there will be more than 100 activities.

The opening performance, “Das Kapital”, will be presented by the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre. The performance is a new version of Karl Marx’s grand classic in celebration of the 200th anniversary of his birth, incorporating Macau’s elements and illustrating the duality of capital by way of black humor. The closing performance, “13 Tongues,” is a captivating dance, music and folklore show by dance group Cloud Gate 2.

As usual, the MAF will offer shows from European countries, including the UK, Belgium, Portugal and Germany.

The event will also bring several performances from mainland China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Israel.

In comparison with previous years, Asian programs increased from 15 percent to 23 percent of the program this year.

“This edition of the festival features shows from 11 countries and regions that showcase not only avant-garde art but also seek to explore alternative performances of non-western shows,” said IC president Mok Ian Ian.

“There are even more connections and interactivity between local and foreign artists and between local elements and universal themes,” said Mok, adding “the Macao Arts Festival continues to pursue its aim to promote the development of local arts, striving to offer a performance and exchange platform to performing artists. […] A wide range of topics is suitable for audiences of all ages.”

In this edition of the festival, local artists will join hands with European and Asian artists in the performances in the one of the category called “Groundbreakers: Connection.” Dirks Theatre Arts Association will collaborate with an Irish director and its international actors team.

In the “Cross-Disciplinary Creations: Theatre” category, the 29th MAF presents artistic expression in various forms, including dance and an installation play.

Several performances within this category of the festival present perspectives related to daily life.

Family programs will allow people of all ages to participate in the festival. The family show “Infinita” by German troupe Familie Flöz takes ordinary, daily activities as topics and examines the common experiences of life, triggering reflections and an understanding of life philosophies.

In the “Quintessence of Tradition” category, the festival organizers will feature classic stories that have been refined over time. 

The 29th MAF Outreach Program features 28 programs which total 44 activities, including lectures, artists’ talks, art critiques, accessibility services and movie screenings.

The Outreach Program aims to promote artistic activities. Apart from the performances of the Performing Arts Gala, this edition of the MAF also offers the public a workshop by Israeli theatre troupe The Key Theatre, in which children will learn how to manipulate paper puppets.

A graffiti workshop will also be hosted by a local graffiti art group. In addition, five films have been selected to be screened in different neighborhoods.

In order to allow people with visual and hearing impairments to enjoy arts without barriers, arts accessibility services will be made available in several shows.

The IC president claims that the MAF is becoming “more diversified and more in touch with reality.”

“It widened the scope of its target audience and further strengthened local productions, playing an important role in artistic cooperation, artistic cooperation and exchange as well as in the training of local talents,” said Mok.

Tickets for the 29th MAF are available at the Macau Ticketing Network from 10 a.m. on March 11. Reservations can be made by phone or online from 12 p.m. onwards on the same day.

Early bird discounts of 20 percent, subject to certain criteria, are available from March 11 to 18 and a 20 percent discount will be offered from March 19 onwards.

Admission to all the Outreach Program activities will be free and applications to attend will open on March 12.