Children’s arts festival returns with international lineup

The 2nd Macao International Children’s Arts Festival is set to feature 49 performances and activities across more than 1,000 sessions.

Taking place from July to August, the festival aims to engage children and families with the arts through a diverse range of activities designed to stimulate multiple senses and encourage artistic appreciation.

These include international performing arts, large-scale musicals, art exhibitions, a film festival, outdoor installations, art and music camps, workshops, and an arts carnival.

“We are bringing outstanding international performing arts together with local creations to create a diverse platform,” said IC president Deland Leong yesterday at the event’s press conference.

“This initiative aims to foster artistic exchange between Macau and the global community, support the growth of children’s arts and related cultural industries, and offer families opportunities to engage in shared artistic experiences. It also helps develop distinctive cultural tourism that contributes to building a cultural Macau,” she added.

International performances scheduled include the ballet Cinderella by the Ballet of the National Theatre Brno from the Czech Republic, the physical theatre Slava’s Snowshow, and the baby-focused theatre play Bebeethoven from Portugal.

Additional offerings include the multimedia theatre play Poli Pop from South Korea and the interactive theatre production An Astronaut’s Day.

The festival also features the Disney The Magic Box Musical, presented by Sands China Ltd., combining classic and new Disney songs with dance and puppetry.

Local productions include the puppetry theatre play Chong Chong’s Hamsters, the musical Magic Wand IV – Percussion vs. the Bull Demon King by the Macao Chinese Orchestra and the a cappella group Water Singers, and Whispering Zodiac: The Chinese Zodiac Choral Concert, performed by the Macao Conservatory.

Exhibitions such as Magic of Lines: Serge Bloch’s Wonderland of Picture Books and Artful Explorers, featuring books from the Public Library collection, will run alongside the performances, promoting artistic education and creativity.

The festival introduces the “Little Chinese Music Troupe” Music Camp, designed for children aged 5 to 10 to explore traditional Chinese instruments. It also offers the Children’s Creative Camp and Family Art Camp, which include overnight stays at the Macao Cultural Centre.

The Macao International Children’s Film Festival will screen 25 films, including Where the Wild Things Are and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, with outreach activities at various community venues.

Outdoor installations and an arts carnival will return to the Macao Cultural Centre Plaza, featuring inflatable structures, splash sprinklers, and weekend parties linked to the 15th National Games. The “Children’s Fun Book House” pop-up bookshop will provide reading materials for families during weekends in July and August.

Operating on a budget of MOP20 million, the festival’s funding has decreased by MOP9 million from last year, reflecting a scaled-down exhibition component to accommodate the Macau International Art Biennial, which will also begin this summer. Staff Reporter