Sands China kicks off arts competition

Wilfred Wong with co-organizers, along with IC and MGTO representatives

In a bid to boost public awareness of the region’s heritage sites and historic center, Sands China has launched its first creative arts competition in partnership with local associations.
The “Macao’s Past and Present Creative Arts Competition,” which accepts artwork submissions from today, hopes to attract the city’s art enthusiasts to submit art pieces that may eventually be transformed into commercial products for Sands China.
In a press conference yesterday, Sands China’s president Wilfred Wong expressed hope that the competition would inspire local artists to create homages to the city.
“This competition is one of our company’s initiatives to promote the local art scene in Macau,” he said, adding that this has the potential to boost the peninsula’s cultural tourism.
Wong also recalled that the company has been supporting various local arts and culture events including the documentary film, “Behind the Scenes of Gaming Practitioners,” which started shooting recently.
The conference outlined the three categories of the competition: drawing and painting, photography, and sculpture/3D arts.
The organizer said the work must be closely related to the people, events and sights of Macau, and it should capture the changes over the region’s development.
The artworks may feature the city’s World Heritage Sites, innovative architecture, large-scale integrated resorts, folk costumes, festival celebrations and mega events. Streets, alleys and the everyday life of local residents could also be included to showcase local characteristics and social dimensions of the MSAR.
Winners will be chosen in each category including a special award, “The Parisian Macao Design Award,” for entries themed on the resort that is due to open on September 13, in addition to ten “Awards of Merit.”
Winners will receive prizes totaling to over MOP150,000 with winning works to be displayed across all Sands China properties.
The competition is only open to MSAR residents, and the organizer stressed that Sands China employees are not eligible to join. Entries will be accepted at the Macau Design Center until October 23, with no limit to the number of submissions per contestant.
“Macao’s Past and Present Creative Arts Competition” is co-organized by the Macau Artist Society, Macao Multimedia Photographic Association, and Macao Designers Association, along with the Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Macao Government Tourism Office as supporting entities.