China Cultural and Natural Heritage Day
On the occasion of the “China Cultural and Natural Heritage Day” to be held on 12 June this year, the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym) will host a series of exciting activities, including the highlight “Genesis and Spirit – Showcase of Anhui Intangible Cultural Heritage”, which will comprehensively present the cultural features as well as the exquisite and profound intangible cultural heritage of Anhui Province. During the period of the event, workshops and concerts will be held and some World Heritage sites will be open to the public with free admission in a bid to enhance residents’ and tourists’ knowledge of Macao’s cultural heritage.
The “Cultural and Natural Heritage Day” originates from the former designation of the “Cultural Heritage Day”. According to the directive from the State Council of China, the “Cultural Heritage Day” has been celebrated annually on the second Saturday of June since 2006. In 2017, the “Cultural Heritage Day” was renamed “Cultural and Natural Heritage Day” with the aim of strengthening public awareness of the importance of safeguarding cultural and natural heritage.
The highlight of the “Cultural and Natural Heritage Day” this year, “Genesis and Spirit – Showcase of Anhui Intangible Cultural Heritage”, presented by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China and the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government and the Department of Culture and Tourism of Anhui Province, and co-organized by the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, the Anhui Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Centre and the Tourism Education and Training Base for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, will be held from 12 June to 4 July, presenting a diverse range of Anhui Province’s intangible cultural heritage to Macao residents through a series of activities, including thematic exhibitions, cultural performances, thematic talks, arts and crafts demonstrations and workshops.
A number of workshops will also be held at IC’s cultural facilities, including the Workshop of Conservation of Cultural Relics (family workshop) at the Macao Museum on 12 June, the Workshop of Clay Dragon Boat Making at the Museum of Taipa and Coloane History, Intangible Cultural Heritage Series of World Heritage Youth Education Base – Workshop of Dragon Boat Dough Sculptures Making (family workshop) at the Mandarin’s House, and the Workshop of Dragon Boat Festival Sachet Making at the Lou Kau Mansion, which will be held on 12 and 13 June. Some of the aforementioned activities and workshops of the “Genesis and Spirit” series require advance registration; interested parties may register from 26 May through the “Activities Registration System” on IC’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/eform/event. Seating for the thematic talks will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. If the number of registrants in the workshops exceeds the maximum number of participants, participants will be selected by drawing lots.
In addition, the Macao Orchestra (OM) will stage the concert “Piano Chamber Indulgence” at the World Heritage building Dom Pedro V Theatre at 8pm on 19 June to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of the great composer Camille Saint-Saëns. Tickets for the concert are available at the Macau Ticketing Network and are priced at MOP120 and MOP100. OM will also present the concert “The Enduring Memories of Paris” at the University Hall of the University of Macau at 8pm on 12 June. Those who have successfully reserved tickets are advised to arrive the venue on time.
From 12 to 13 June, the Guia Lighthouse will be especially open to the public from 10am to 5pm, and the Macao Museum will be open to residents and tourists with free admission during the opening hours from 10am to 6pm. Guided tours are available at various heritage sites on Saturday and Sunday.
IC will strictly follow the relevant guidelines issued by the Health Bureau to ensure effective epidemic prevention. All participants must wear face masks, undergo body temperature checks, present a “Macao Health Code” of the day, and follow the crowd control measures.
For more information about the activities celebrating the “China Cultural and Natural Heritage Day”, please contact IC at 8399 6699 during office hours, or visit IC’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/chd, official WeChat account “IC_Art_Macao” or “IC Art” page on Facebook.
