Gov’t allocates over MOP95 million to fund over 1,100 projects in first half

The Cultural Development Fund (FDC) granted over MOP95 million in financial support to 1,140 cultural and artistic projects, marking a notable increase compared to the same period last year.

Funded activities included photography and painting exhibitions, opera and dance performances, as well as film festivals.

The fund’s financial backing rose 15.8% year-on-year, with 790 projects approved in the first quarter receiving MOP24 million.

In the second quarter, 350 projects were granted MOP71.5 million. This represents the highest level of support since the fund’s establishment in 2022, following the merger of the former Cultural Industries Fund and Cultural Fund.

According to public disclosures by the Public Assets Supervision Administration Bureau, the number of projects and funding amounts both grew compared to the previous year, when 893 projects received MOP82.5 million in the first half of 2024.

The supported initiatives covered a wide range of cultural and artistic fields, including visual arts exhibitions, music and dance performances, literary creation, intangible cultural heritage activities, and cinema festivals.

Key beneficiaries included Casa de Portugal, which received MOP187,000 for literary, musical, and theatrical projects; Somos! — Association for Communication in Portuguese Language, awarded MOP580,000 for visual arts activities; and CURB (Center for Architecture and Urbanism), granted MOP1.4 million for exhibitions and architectural photography competitions.

Other notable recipients were Art For All Society Macau (MOP1.1 million), d’As Entranhas Macau – Cultural Association (MOP615,000), Audio-Visual Cut Association (MOP 570,000), 10 Marias Cultural Association (MOP442,000), Armazém de Boi (MOP1.5 million), and the Institute of European Studies of Macau (MOP323,000).

The fund aims to support the development and exchange of cultural and artistic activities, cultural industry projects, and heritage preservation efforts.

In 2024, it approved 1,148 projects with a total allocation of MOP186 million, 71% of which was dedicated to culture and arts, with the remainder supporting cultural industries and heritage. Times Reporter