Applications for financing for cultural associations now open

The Cultural Affairs Bureau (CAB) is now accepting, from October 17 to 21, applications from registered non-profit cultural associations for a series of subsidy programmes, namely the "Application for Financial Support for Cultural Activities/Projects", the "Programme for Human Resources Training in Cultural and Arts Management" as well as the newly created "Arts in the Community Financing Plan". The projects that meet the following criteria will be prioritised:
1. That take the community as a stage, encourage residents' participation and improve the community cultural atmosphere;
2. That make use of Macao's public spaces such as streets, squares, gardens, monuments, etc, research the history of the city's quarters, cultural aspects and architectural characteristics;
3. That include programmes of arts education, workshops and school tours for children and teenagers, related to human resources training in the cultural and arts area; 4. That encourage originality, in particular of scripts and literary works;
5. Related to contemporary art;
6. Related to the research, transmission, education, school promotion and dissemination of the intangible cultural heritage as well as complete performances of Cantonese opera;
7. Dedicated to the education, research and dissemination of Macao's cultural heritage as well as to raising awareness to its protection;
8. Creative programmes or specialised research in the fields of the city's culture, arts, literature and history;
9. Artistic production and specialised research exchange programmes with foreign cultural associations, scholars and artists; exhibitions and demonstrations abroad of local cultural and artistic creations;
10. That contribute to the training of local audiences and reinforce cultural consumption in Macau such as the implementation projects of ticket sales systems.
Annually, the CAB subsidises cultural activities related to literature, visual arts, Chinese calligraphy, photography, music, dance, theatre, Cantonese opera, traditional song, academic research, video, etc. The newly created "Arts in the Community Financing Plan" is aimed at encouraging local artistic associations to enter communities, promoting residents' collective production and participation, forging bonds within the communities, bringing residents' closer to the arts and boosting the territory's cultural development in several fields, thus promoting local cultural values and strengthening Macao's culture and arts' sustainable development. The application form and related documents can be obtained at the CAB building, located at Tap Seac Square, or downloaded from www.icm.gov.mo. Applicants should hand in the form and any relevant documents at the CAB building, daily from 10am to 5pm, from October 17 to 21 (including Saturday, Sunday and lunch breaks). For more information, please call 2836 6866, during office hours.