Cultural Affairs Bureau hosts various activities to celebrate “China Cultural and Natural Heritage Day”
In response to the “China Cultural and Natural Heritage Day” on 9 June 2018 (Saturday), the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) is going to hold a series of exciting activities, including the highlighted programme “Macao’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Carnival” to be held at the Mandarin’s House and Lilau Square for two consecutive days. The Carnival also features a variety of activities, such as concerts, exhibitions, talks, courses, as well as free visits to the Guia Lighthouse, the Chinese Ancient and Rare Books Chamber at Sir Robert Ho Tung Library and the Macao Museum, thus raising the public awareness of Macao’s cultural heritage comprehensively.
The “Cultural and Natural Heritage Day” originates in the “Cultural Heritage Day”. According to the State Council directive, the “Cultural Heritage Day” has been celebrated annually on the second Saturday of the month of June since 2006. In order to strengthen public awareness about the importance of safeguarding all types of heritage (including cultural and natural heritage), the “Cultural Heritage Day” was renamed “Cultural and Natural Heritage Day” from 2017.
The “Macao’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Carnival” will be held at the Mandarin’s House and Lilau Square concurrently at 12pm on 9 and 10 June, featuring Cantonese Opera, Cantonese Naamyam, Taoist ritual music and other performing arts. Meanwhile, booth games, exhibitions, thematic talks and workshops under the theme of the city’s intangible cultural heritage will also be offered during the Carnival. Through a variety of activities in diversified forms, the event aims to promote the valuable intangible cultural heritage of Macao in a lively atmosphere.
In addition, the IC will also organise talks and courses for the public at its culture facilities, including the thematic talk “The Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty and the Japanese Tea Ceremony” at Macao Tea Culture House at 3pm on 9June, conducted by the Honorary Director of China International Tea Culture Institute and the President of Chinese Teaism Association of Macao, Lo Heng Kong; the thematic talk “Theoretical Knowledge on Heritage Photography” at Macao Museum Auditorium at 10:30am on the same day; and the “Heritage Photography Course” at Macao Museum Auditorium at 10:30am and 2pm on 10 June, conducted and instructed by the Senior Photographer of Macao Museum, Ho Un Seng. Admission to the abovementioned activities is free. Interested parties can register through the “Activity Registration System” on IC’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/eform/event.
In June, the Macao Chinese Orchestra, which is committed to promoting outstanding Chinese music, will present two concerts with distinctive style staged at two magnificent world heritage sites. “Heavenly Music” - Taoist Ritual Music Concert, jointly presented by the Macao Chinese Orchestra and the Macao Taoist Association, will be held on Sunday, 3 June, at 4pm, at the Dom Pedro V Theatre, featuring ritual music pieces filled with local characteristics of Macao. Tickets for the concert are priced at MOP60 and MOP80, and are now available at Macau Ticketing Network, with various discount packages available. The “Stirring Ruan” - Ruan Concert by Choo Boon Yeow, presented by the Ruan musician of the Macao Chinese Orchestra, Choo Boon Yeow, will be held on Friday, 8 June, at 8pm, at the St. Dominic’s Church, bringing concertos with high degree of difficulty, ensembles, solos that rich with imagination as well as Chinese music compositions fused with jazz style. Admission to the concert “Stirring Ruan” - Ruan Concert by Choo Boon Yeow is free. Tickets will be distributed at the St. Dominic’s Church one hour prior to the performance. For more infromation about the concerts, please visit the Macao Chinese Orchestra’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/ochm.
The current exhibition “Typa Anchorage: Names of the Past and the Present” at the Nostalgic House of the Taipa Houses features precious ancient maps of Macao. Guided tours are also available at various heritage sites on Saturday and Sunday, encouraging the public to know more about the historical stories of Macao. On 9 June, the Chinese Ancient and Rare Books Chamber at Sir Robert Ho Tung Library will be open to the public from 3pm to 6pm. On 9 and 10 June, the Guia Lighthouse will be open to public from 10am to 5pm and free admission to the Macao Museum will be available for both residents and tourists. The Macao Museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm (no admission after 5:30pm).
For more information about the activities celebrating “China Cultural and Natural Heritage Day”, please contact IC through tel. no. 8399 6699 during office hours or visit the IC’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/chd.
