Related cultural and creative products by local talent will be launched this year
“Macao Light Festival 2017 – AMOR MACAU” will come on stage from 3rd to 31st December at various locations in Macao, presenting a glamorous journey brimming with love and dreams that is well-designed and created in concerted effort by over a hundred local transmedia creators and the organizer – Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO). Coming to its third edition, the Macao Light Festival will present an innovative and splendid program which includes projection mapping, light installations, interactive games and a series of more activities such as Light Art Exhibition, Mini Concert, Outdoor Movie and Light Dinner. Related cultural and creative products will be launched in tandem with the Macao Light Festival as well. Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Cultural Affairs Bureau and Sports Bureau are the event co-organizers.
MGTO held a press conference today (22nd November) at Macau Design Centre to unveil the event program. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, MGTO Deputy Directors Cecilia Tse and Cheng Wai Tong, Vice President of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ieong Chi Kin, and Vice President of Sports Bureau, Lam Lin Kio, were present in the press conference along with other personages today. As Director Senna Fernandes pointed out in her remarks, the Macao Light Festival 2017 is jointly presented by MGTO and the local cultural and creative entity, Macau Design Centre. The production team is composed entirely of Macao creative talent. MGTO aspires to craft an unprecedented and eye-opening extravaganza of illuminations for residents and visitors by bringing together the imaginations and ideas of local creators. She also remarked that the Macao Light Festival will be inaugurated on 3rd December, the same day as the Macao International Marathon. During the Macao Light Festival, the city will also be livened up by a string of spectacular events and festive moments including the 2nd International Film Festival & Awards • Macao, the Macau Shopping Festival and the Macao International Parade, as well as celebrations for the 18th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the Christmas holidays and the New Year’s Eve. MGTO strives to fill the entire December with festive vibes and synergies derived from tourism, culture, sports and other mega events.
Embark from “love” at the heart onto extensive routes of lights
“Macao Light Festival 2017 – AMOR MACAU” will be staged from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. from 3rd to 31st December (the last projection mapping show will start at 9:50 p.m. daily). Through fascinating light artistry, the event will portray the harmony in cultural diversity and touching historical stories of the city while passing on the spirit of love. The Festival is suitable for all ages, couples, families and friends, and promises a range of experiences not to miss for art lovers and spectators who enjoy sharing memorable moments with their friends by taking selfies or checking in on social media.
The Opening Ceremony – “Wish-Making under the Stars” will commence at 6:45 p.m. on 3rd December at the Ruins of St. Paul’s, presenting an enchantingly beautiful performance to kick off the journey of love. This year, the routes will cover wider areas compared to those of last year, with the aspiration to bring love and dreams to every resident and visitor, and spread the key message of “AMOR MACAU”. Radiating from the Ruins of St. Paul’s as the heart of the event, the routes extend towards locations including Senado Square, Anim’Arte Nam Van to Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre, St. Lazarus’ Parish and Camões Garden. Taipa Houses will also be one of the designated locations. The love story of Macao will be shared in eight different episodes staged at eight distinctive attractions, namely “Embrace Integration” at Camões Garden, “The Lighthouse of Life” at St. Anthony’s Church, “Mercy and Love for All” at St. Lazarus Church and Calçada da Igreja de S. Lázaro, “Boundless Love” at the Ruins of St. Paul’s, “Playground of Lights” at Anim’Arte Nam Van, “The Maze of Flowers” at Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre, “Love Stems from the Heart” at Senado Square and “Happy Homestead” at the Taipa Houses.
Exclusively local masterpiece presented by over 100 local creators
The production team of Macao Light Festival 2017 consists of over a hundred local transmedia creators specialized in diverse areas such as animations, music, films and multimedia. The production team ingeniously combines innovative technology and local artistry with the history and culture of Macao for fascinating displays on local historical architectures, attractions and streets, offering a mega extravaganza of lights belonging just to Macao.
The upcoming event will feature three projection mapping shows themed as follows – Bringing together the loving essence of different cultures, religions and ethnic groups, “Boundless Love” at the Ruins of St. Paul’s will depict the glamour of Macao as a major hub on the Maritime Silk Road with background music composed by local talent, while letting spectators enjoy their own creative experience of mapping projection in an interactive game. “The Lighthouse of Life” at St. Anthony’s Church weaves the church history into fascinating stories of romance, love and humankind. Synchronized with local music, “Mercy and Love for All” at St. Lazarus Church guides spectators through a journey across time and space to experience the Parish’s loving kindness for humanity.
The event will bring forth an array of interactive light installations and games designed to enchant the audience and enhance their level of participation. For instance, Anim’Arte Nam Van will be transformed into the “Playground of Lights” set to awaken vibrant and youthful friendships among participants through an amalgam of music, dances, games and so forth. On the other hand, “The Maze of Flowers” at Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre will immerse participants into a mysterious sea of roses and let them project blessing lanterns beneath the canopy next to the maze.
For the upcoming Macao Light Festival, the Office will launch a new mobile application featuring related information, a game to collect the puzzles of love and the interactive game at the Ruins of St. Paul’s. Souvenirs are ready for game players who successfully collect sufficient pieces of the puzzles of love. The public can download the mobile app on App Store or Google Play for free as the Festival arrives.
Please stay tuned to updates about the projection mapping shows, light installations and interactive games on MGTO’s website: www.macaotourism.gov.mo.
Diversity and innovation for enhanced effect
To boost its effect, the Macao Light Festival will roll out new series of innovative and diverse activities at different locations and periods, to enhance the level of experience and participation for visitors and residents. In parallel with the event, related cultural and creative products by local talent will be launched for sale at information centers set up at the eight designated locations during the Festival, to showcase the all-round creativity of the local cultural and creative industry.
In addition, The Light in the Soul - Light Art Exhibition will be held at the exhibition gallery on the ground floor of Oriental Foundation, showcasing artworks with elements of light created by local artists José Drummond, João Ó and James Chu for visitors to enjoy light art even at daytime. Outdoor mini concerts by local musicians and an outdoor screening of the local movie “Love in the City” will be staged in town on schedule for free admission, enabling the audiences to enjoy romantic local productions in the beautiful glow of illuminations. Moreover, the Festival will join hands with two local catering establishments to present Light Dinner, an array of feasts that blend light projections and culinary delights into unprecedented dining experiences, riding on the creative momentum given by the designation of Macao as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. Please stay tuned to more updates on MGTO’s website www.macaotourism.gov.mo for the date & time and location of the aforementioned activities.
Promotion through various channels and theme music by local talent
The production team has composed the theme music for the Macao Light Festival 2017, which has become part of the advertisements on television, radio stations and online platforms. In addition to production of promotional posters and leaflets, MGTO has also been promoting the event through its representatives around the world.
MGTO values the results brought by the Macao Light Festival. An evaluation was completed regarding the effects of “Macao Light Festival 2016 – Treasure of Light”. According to the survey report, the overall level of awareness, satisfaction and support for the last light festival was relatively high among interviewed residents, visitors and merchants, suggesting the enhanced effects of the event. Among the interviewees, over 90% of the residents and more than 80% of the visitors and merchants were aware of the event. In addition, over 90% of the residents and visitors expressed their support to future organization of the event.
In 2015, MGTO launched the first edition of the Macao Light Festival, with the hope to draw visitors to different districts of the city for an appreciation of local culture and history from innovative angles shaped by light artistry. The event also aims to extend the length of visitors’ stay and boost the economic benefit brought to local businesses, while tapping into the potentials of cultural tourism by cultivating the cultural and creative industry in Macao.