The Macao Museum celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. In order to offer the public an even richer and higher quality experience, on the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the Museum plans to implement optimization and improvement measures at different levels, including the renovation of the exhibition areas, the organization of special exhibitions of donated objects, the expansion of guided tour services and the launch of the first realistic guided tour mobile application that combines AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) interactive technologies.
On a first stage, the Museum will update its pre-historic archaeology and a part of the port opening sections, namely through an improvement of the descriptions of this section, the optimization of the display methods of the artefacts, the improvement of the showcase switches and the adjustment of the lighting in the exhibition area, among others, taking this opportunity to introduce a new museum to the public. In the future, the Museum will continue to optimize and improve the planning of exhibitions, lighting effects and renewal of objects on display. In 2019, it plans to renew the “commercial area” which introduces the importance of Macao as a commercial port during the Ming and Qing dynasties through the display of often imported and exported products, such as silk, tea and porcelain, allowing the public to appreciate different types of tea sets and tea products, among others.
In addition, as a way to thank residents for their donations, the Museum establishes an area dedicated to donated objects, thus hoping to encourage the public to donate items to the Museum so that these are better preserved and used. In the past, the donation exhibition area displayed objects of Lew Yuk Lin, imperial envoy of the Qing Dynasty to Great Britain and later Extraordinary Envoy and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic of China to Great Britain, materials from the Japan War period donated by Chan Tai Pak and personal objects which once belonged to Tai Ensai and Sun Wan, among others. Currently, the donations area showcases items from the Kie Fung Yuk Limited, such as bottles and labels, among others, which have witnessed the golden age of Macao’s wine industry. The Macao Museum will hold a showcase of donated items twice a year, in order to allow the public to appreciate such relics as well as encourage more contributions. The Museum will further launch two research projects, namely “Historical Materials and Objects of the Macao Chio Clan” and “Macao’s Maritime Silk Route”.
In the second half of the year, the Museum will extend its regular guided tours to the gardens of Mount Fortress in order to introduce to the public the history and development of the Fortress over more than three centuries. During the guided tours around the Museum to be held in July, staff members of the Museum will take participants on a tour to Mount Fortress and the Ruins of St. Paul’s and explain the history of these constructions as well as of the Museum. In order to encourage the public to better employ cultural resources, this year the Museum will launch an Activity Award Scheme, under which members of the public can participate in activities between May and November as often as they wish, collect stamps and receive great souvenirs.
In 2017, the Macao Museum introduced free Wi-Fi service, which was well received by the public. In order to further improve public services, this year the Museum launches the first realistic guided tour mobile application that combines AR and VR interactive technologies. Through this application, the members of the public will be able to visit its exhibitions through a virtual museum, not having to visit the Museum in person, and will also be able to interact through augmented reality and appreciate selected Museum collections at 360º in their home.
For more information, please contact the Macao Museum through tel. no. 2835 7911 during office hours. The Macao Museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm, including public holidays, and closes on Mondays. Admission is free for holders of the Macao Resident Identity Card.