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In pursuit of art

Stepping into the post-pandemic era, Macau has opened up a new pattern of development with the progression of the literary and artistic industry emerging as a new trend in the diversification of Macau’s economy. The four-month “Art Macao” has seen the local literary and artistic community embark on a new journey.

Local government plays a particularly important role in the development of a city’s cultural and artistic industry. Macau enjoys a profound history of cultural development, and the blending of Chinese and Western cultures has created unique mainstream cultural and artistic characteristics. Macau’s first large-scale research and discussion on topics related to the cultural sector can be traced back to 3 July 1988. At that time, a total of 150 local cultural figures gathered and held a grand symposium on Macau culture with the support of the Cultural Institute of Macao, now the Cultural Affairs Bureau.

Discussions were conducted and centered around local literature, publishing, calligraphy, painting, sculpture and other literary and artistic developments. While the symposium also reviewed the government’s cultural development policies under the Portuguese administration, this large-scale cultural discussion event, collectively known as the “Macao Cultural Seminar”, laid a solid foundation for the future collaboration between the local cultural sector and the Macau SAR Government.

Policy Support

After the return of Macau to China in 1999, local society developed rapidly. To better promote cultural development and meet social needs, the SAR government officially launched the comprehensive promotion and development of the local cultural industry in 2010. In 2014, the government launched the Policy Framework for the Development of Cultural Industries of the Macao SAR (2014-2019), setting the development direction for Macau’s cultural industry, while four core domains were classified according to industry characteristics, namely “Creative design”, “Cultural exhibitions and performances”, “Art collection” and “Digital media”.

Based on its analysis of the latest developments and expected future trends of various fields of the local cultural industry, the government has classified the industry into four core development industries (core sectors for cultural development), four cultivation and support industries (industries that need to be supported for cultural development), and four integrated development industries (cultural industries that can be integrated with other industries).

Although Macau was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the SAR government strived to promote the goal of moderately diversified economic development and re-launched the “Policy Framework for the Development of the Cultural Industry of Macao (2020-2024)” which outlined a new blueprint for the industry’s development in the next five years.

The report points out that Macau is aiming to build a complete cultural industry ecosystem and value chain, and to develop an international city of cultural innovation which is diverse, inclusive, distinctive, fashionable and dynamic. It also states that new markets and new products will be created through cultural tourism.

According to Wilson Lam, the Art Consultant of the Macau Artist Society, the cultural development policy framework is, at least to some extent, helpful to the literary and art community.

“Nowadays, no matter what kind of cultural field you belong to, you will benefit from the government’s policy framework which promotes the development of the local cultural industry. This is a good start,” he said.

“However, to achieve a certain level of effect, the Government must adopt a deeper and more serious attitude, be more professional in various cultural sectors, and be able to move with the times.”

Lam also says that promoting culture and art is an arduous task for the government.

“In a city like Macau, where resources are scarce and costs are high, the only saving grace is a free and open mind, a unique perspective that has been fostered by hundreds of years of cultural exchange with the West.”

Congenital restrictions

Although Macau enjoys a strong tradition of blending Chinese and Western cultures, its small size of only 33 square kilometers and subsequent population density over 20,000 people per square kilometer means land resources have become very important.

There are about 30 cultural facilities in the city. Although these facilities are located in different areas, they face a series of challenges given they are small venues with insufficient publicity. The Macao Cultural Center, founded in 1999, is one of the more popular and extensive art performance venues.

From a land resources management policy perspective, the top priority is to solve the housing issue, followed by the provision of a series of public leisure and teaching facilities. This means the construction of additional cultural and artistic spaces won’t be a high priority in the short term.

Lam says the shortage of land has limited the development of cultural and artistic institutions and the expansion of related venues.

“The lack of sufficient venues and facilities may limit the organization and display of cultural and artistic activities,” he explained, adding that the arts and culture sector usually requires significant funds to support artists, cultural institutions and projects. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other external economic factors, Macau may face funding challenges, resulting in restrictions on the industry’s development.

Lam suggests the government should support the development of arts and culture by formulating corresponding policies and providing funds.

“Policies should include building more cultural venues, providing financial sponsorships and scholarships, and formulating tax incentives to encourage investment in arts and culture,” he said.

“Macau can actively promote cultural exchanges and cooperation with other regions and countries. This can be achieved by organizing cultural and arts festivals, exhibitions and performance activities, inviting international artists to perform and exhibit in Macau, and establishing transnational cultural project collaborations.”

Arts and culture scene

For an industry to develop healthily and become stable and sustainable, it not only needs producers, but also buyers and other downstream industries. However, the arts and culture industry accounts for less than 1% of Macau’s GDP.

According to the most recent cultural industry statistics from the Statistics and Census Service, published late last year, the total number of registered entities dedicated to operating in the cultural industries, covering the four core domains “Creative design”, “Cultural exhibitions and performances”, “Art collection” and “Digital media”, reached 2,764, an increase for the year of 248.

In 2021, the local cultural industries created 12,067 jobs, up by 1.4% year-on-year, while the compensation of employees rose 1.4% to MOP$2.13 billion. Total service receipts grew by 12.3% to MOP$5.67 billion.

The Gross Value Added, which measures the contribution of the industries to the economy, decreased by 0.1% to MOP$2.15 billion, accounting for 0.9% of the total Gross Value Added of all economic activities in Macau in 2021.

Increasing the contribution of the cultural industry to the local economy, along with developing the industry in a stable and sustainable manner have become top priorities.

Local artist Yaya Vai, whose works have been selected for several art exhibitions, believes the government has invested substantial resources in arts and culture, and that the city also enjoys abundant resources compared with neighboring regions. However, there are shortcomings.

“The cultural and art industry is not just about artistic products: audiences and buyers are also required to shape an industry value chain,” she said.

“Although the government and some enterprises assist artists to showcase their works, collectors and buyers who purchase these products are the most needed.”

This problem is also prevalent in the local literary scene.

“For Art Macao [see next section], the SAR Government has invested a lot of resources, but how many residents and visitors will participate? How many families will choose to go to a museum or art gallery during their holiday or weekend?” Vai asks.

She believes Macau should cultivate students’ literary and artistic talents, starting with education, increasing their interest in art and therefore enabling society to develop an atmosphere of art appreciation.

Lam agrees there is room for improvement in cultural and artistic education. “Macau can strengthen its cultural and artistic education and training, from school education to professional training, to cultivate artistically talented people with increased artistic skills and professional knowledge,” he said.

The birth of Art Macao

According to the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area that was promulgated by the State Council of China in 2019, the central government supports Macau in leveraging the long-term blending and coexistence of eastern and western multiculturalism, accelerating the development of cultural industries and cultural tourism, and building a cultural exchange center between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, known locally as the “Forum Macao”.

In the same year, the Macau SAR government held Art Macao for the first time, which became Macau’s largest art exhibition event of the year. The first edition of Art Macao was held over a full six-month period. With the Macao Museum of Art as the main exhibition venue, art exhibitions were held in several local integrated resorts and hotels, and even foreign consulates in Hong Kong and Macau, not to mention the concert seasons of the Macao Orchestra and the Macao Chinese Orchestra, highlight performances at the Macao Cultural Center and the International Youth Festival. Art Macao in 2019 brought together the best of Chinese and international arts from ancient and modern times.

Then Secretary for Culture and Social Affairs, Dr Alexis Tam, explained, “Art Macao explores new directions for the development of culture and arts in Macau, opens up new space for the future, and gives full play to the city’s geographical and institutional advantages.”

The first Art Macao became legendary in the local literary and art sector. The event won recognition from the public and has become one of the most important periods for local artists.

In 2020, Macau was hit by the pandemic, so the second Art Macao project was held in June 2021. Featuring the theme “To Create for Wellbeing”, the event showcased 30 pieces of art works and outdoor art installations created by artists from Macau, mainland China and cities and regions around the world. Traditional exhibition venues, outdoor plazas, world heritage attractions, higher education institutions and hotels and resorts in the city were transformed into art gardens.

Building an art platform

Stepping into the post-pandemic era, Macau has opened a new pattern of economic development. It is hoped that future development will no longer be dominated by a single industry. The government introduced the “1+4” moderately diversified development project concept, while “Culture +” has become a new indicator of industry development. The third Art Macao – now established as a biennial event –  is being hosted by the SAR government again in 2023. It is the premier cultural and artistic event after the pandemic and has also become the first large-scale project under the partnership between the government and enterprises dedicated to the development of the “Culture+” strategy.

The Government continues to work with integrated resort and leisure enterprises to promote the third edition of Art Macao, while several foreign consulates in Hong Kong and Macau, local and mainland universities and other institutions are also involved. At the opening ceremony of Art Macao, the Director of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Leong Wai Man, stated that the event has successfully created a co-construction model involving the government, enterprises, artists and the public.

“The SAR government has made joint efforts to link up all sectors of society, particularly with the advantages and strength of local integrated resort and leisure enterprises,” Leong said. “Art Macao serves as a good example of co-construction and linkage.

“By gathering internationally renowned artists and introducing art works from around the world, the event demonstrates humanistic vitality to local residents, thereby stimulating the city’s diverse development characteristics and moving towards a new path of integrated development of ‘Culture +’.”

The grand exhibitions of integrated resort and leisure enterprises are the highlights of Art Macao in 2023. The contribution of the business sector has expanded the dissemination and influence of local creations, presenting a number of heavyweight exhibitions and activities, and participating in “art museums throughout the city”.

Among them is the special exhibition “BE@RBRICK MACAU”, the world’s first immersive Bearbrick art exhibition, which has aroused discussions among the public. The well-known Japanese artist Tatsuhiko “Ryu” Akashi leads more than a dozen international and Macau artists and designers to present a large-scale BE@RBRICK feast for the city, combining the application of digital arts to create a unique immersive and interactive experience.

Looking to the future

Building a cultural and artistic brand is the focus of Macau’s literary and artistic development. With the policy support of the Macau SAR government and the assistance of enterprises, the city is creating a unique cultural and artistic brand and cultural tourism experience.

The now-regular Art Macao showcases a new picture of Macau’s literary and artistic development. Looking to the future, with the policy of diversified development and the cooperation of various sectors, Macau’s literary and artistic circles should become an important feature and highlight of the city for years – even decades – to come.

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