IC: Too early to assess outdoor venue performance amid trial period

The president of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), Deland Leong, said that it is too early to evaluate the project’s outcome and effects during the Outdoor Performance Venue’s trial operations.

After yesterday morning’s plenary meeting of the Consultative Committee for Cultural Development at the Macao Cultural Center, Leong spoke at a press briefing.

Questioned on the topic by several media representatives, Leong said, “It’s too early to evaluate this [project]. We are still in the trial period,” adding, “This space was created to address an existing need in Macau for an outdoor area that could support several kinds of large-scale events and performances, and we hope it can deliver the expected results.”

Also questioned on the matter, Leong admitted that the initial one-year trial period might be extended, considering the low usage of the space over the year and the lack of opportunities to accumulate experience in its operation.

“[The trial run] might extend beyond one year. We don’t know for sure yet. We are currently studying this matter,” the IC president said.

Addressing the event cancellation expected to occur in early September (S2O-Songkran Music Festival), the official said it was a unilateral decision by the organizer.

As a commercial decision from a private entity, the IC can make no comments on the matter.
She claimed that, according to the venue rental regulations, reservations require a deposit, which is also handled in accordance with the same rules. She refused to disclose the amount, citing privacy concerns related to the private company.

Venue undergoing optimization in Jul–Aug

Considering that there are no reservations for the space this month or next, the president of the IC said that the authorities are taking this time to perform some “internal optimizations” of the venue.

In response to requests for more details, Leong noted that signage improvements are ongoing “to provide clearer and more accurate information to the public.”

Addressing the venue’s status, Leong said, “We have some confirmed show sessions. We already have some activities confirmed for October and December. We are still accepting and reviewing various requests from other parties. This is the situation at the moment.”

She said August is a difficult month to rent the venue due to matters potentially related to the weather. Still, she claims that more activities are expected later in the year, when the weather is more favorable.

IC did not invite artists or distribute free tickets

Questioned by the media, the president of the IC clarified that, aside from the inaugural performance acts, the IC has not taken part in any artist invitations or any of the procedures related to ticketing, marketing, or promotion of shows.

Leong was referring specifically to the performance held in mid-June by the Norwegian DJ Alan Walker, a show in which she confirmed the IC had no involvement beyond renting the space.

“We want this to be a commercial space, so all artists or performances coming to this space are the responsibility of the organizers, who hire them and take care of the entire process, including ticketing, sales, marketing, etc. We have no interference or participation in these matters,” she said, responding to rumors that the entity had a role in the invitation of the artist and in the distribution of a large number of free tickets that were claimed to have been distributed.

According to information collected by the Times, most of the tickets and vouchers distributed to attract spectators to this performance were provided by initiative of a local gaming concessionaire.