MPI to stage five months of art events

Officiating guests at yesterday’s press conference

To support the development of the local art scene, the Macau Polytechnic Institute (MPI) is organizing a series of events over the next five months.

The initiative, titled “MPI Art- venture” with reference to the word “adventure”, was launched yesterday at a press conference.

The Institute already holds an annual exhibition in May, which features graduation projects from fourth-year students from the School of Arts. It is a joint exhibition involving the Design and Visual Arts programs.

This year, the MPI is trying to further their vision with the addition of other art events – including musical performances and concerts – and the extension of the program’s duration to five months.

In terms of music, there will be concerts featuring bel canto, as well as Chinese and Western orchestras.

Exhibitions to be staged will showcase drawings, Chinese and Western paintings, pottery, sculptures, etc.

Between May 7 to 9, there will be a total of three graduation concerts at the MPI Auditorium, featuring around 20 students, showcasing their talent in singing and piano recital.

From July 5 to August 14, the MPI is hosting students from the University of Porto and the University of Aveiro for a joint exhibition. Work by both students and faculties will be shown.

As introduced by Prof. Marcus Im, President of the Institute, who officiated at the press conference, the Art-venture series of events resonates with this year’s city-wide “Art Macao” initiative led by the Macau government, but counting the participation of many private sector entities.

Another officiating guest was Dr Hsu Hsiu Chu, Director of the School of Arts, who disclosed the news that the MPI is introducing a Master’s program in Multidisciplinary Arts.

She explained that on some occasions students were unable to enrich their artistic projects by adding various elements from outside their core studies. Their existing programs usually focus on a single direction, she said, and the students may not have the tools to realize their ideas.

Hsu explained that this would likely be a first of its kind program in the Greater Bay Area.

The quota for the first-year intake of the new Master’s program, according to Hsu, has been set at 15 students. Staff reporter