News

The Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government will organize an Academic Research Lecture in the Cultural Affairs Bureau Auditorium (Edifício do Instituto Cultural, Tap Seac Square, Macao) at 6:30pm on Thursday March 19. Dr. George Bryan Souza, adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Texas, will give a lecture on “Commerce and Consumption: Merchants and Opium at Batavia over the 18th Century”. This presentation introduces and discusses an anatomy of commerce and consumption of opium at Batavia, on Java, and throughout the Indonesia Archipelago over the long eighteenth century (c.1684-1796). The anatomy of this commerce is introduced by outlining and identifying the importance of the trade in opium to different locally based, indigenous and foreign merchants and their networks. Based upon archival work on the Dutch materials held in Jakarta, Indonesia, this presentation focuses upon all of the major merchant groups, with emphasis upon Chinese in particular, that purchased, distributed, and sold opium to end consumers. The merchant’s families, identities, backgrounds, occupations, and networks are described and explored with the purpose of determining the overall significance of these merchant groups and the relationship of opium and its commerce to the political economic development of Java, in particular, and over a broader geographical space in Southeast Asia, during the 1740s and until the late 1780s – the beginning of a period from 1740 to 1840 that has been claimed as a Chinese century. George Bryan Souza is an adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Texas, San Antonio. Educated at Stanford University (B.A. with Departmental Honors in History), the School of Oriental and African Studies, at the University of London (M.A. in Southeast Asian Area Studies), and Trinity College, Cambridge University (D. Phil. in History), he is the author of The Survival of Empire: Portuguese Trade and Society in China and the South China Sea, 1630-1754, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986 and numerous articles. Over the past few years, he has received support for his research interests in global maritime economic history, the history of European expansion, and cross-cultural contact and exchanges in the early modern period from the following institutions: affiliated fellow, IIAS, Leiden University, the Netherlands; IANTT/FLAD research grants, Lisbon, Portugal; Bernardo Mendel fellowships, at the Lilly Library, Indiana University; research grant from the American Institute for Sri Lankan Studies; Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Asia Research Institute at the National University of Singapore; Visiting Research Fellow at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Kyoto University and is in Macao on a Fulbright grant. Upon completion in April 2009, Souza will take up his invited appointment as a Mercator Guest Professor at Tubingen University in Germany. The lecture will be given in English with Mandarin, Cantonese and Portuguese simultaneous interpretation. Entrance is free. For further details, please contact Ms. Chu of the Macao Historical Archives of the Cultural Affairs Bureau at 85986537.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that Macao registered 430,599 visitor arrivals in package tours in January 2009, up by 12.7% from a year earlier. Visitors from Mainland China (319,375) and Hong Kong (31,769) increased by 16.0% and 40.5% year-on-year respectively, while those from Japan (15,269) decreased by 5.7%. The number of Macao residents travelling outbound in package tours rose markedly by 34.0% year-on-year to 18,132 on account of the Lunar New Year fell in January 2009. Mainland China (68.7%), Republic of Korea (6.5%) and Taiwan, China (6.1%) were the three most popular tour itineraries. Meanwhile, 29,818 residents travelled outbound under individual arrangements using services provided by travel agencies, down by 11.3% over January 2008. Hong Kong (43.1%), Mainland China (27.9%) and Taiwan, China (10.2%) were the major destinations. At the end of January 2009, the number of guest rooms available in the hotel sector increased by 1,410 (+8.7%) from a year earlier to 17,538 rooms. In January 2009, a total of 524,618 guests checked into hotels and similar establishments, down by 6.8% year-on-year; the majority of the guests came from Mainland China (49.5%) and Hong Kong (23.5%). The average hotel occupancy rate for January 2009 dropped by 7.1 percentage points year-on-year to 65.6%, with 4-star hotels leading at 70.0%; in addition, the average length of stay of hotel guests stood at 1.4 nights, same as that in January 2008. In January 2009, visitor-guests staying in hotels accounted for 56.7% of the total number of tourists, down from 61.2% in January 2008.
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Macau Government Tourist Office and the Macau travel trade promote the city as a leisure and business tourism destination and strengthen ties with the international travel trade in the world's leading travel trade show, ITB Berlin 2009 opened today (March 11). MGTO deputy director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes heads the Macau delegation to the exhibition, held from March 11 to 15. The theme of MGTO’s booth at ITB this year is “Experience Macau!”, showcasing UNESCO world heritage “The Historic Center of Macau” as well as the new tourism products to the travel trade and consumers of the region. Latest tourism information of Macau is also distributed at the booth, where travel trade representatives from Macau, Germany and around the world meet for business. MGTO aims to uplift the reputation of Macau at large-scale international travel fairs to tap more overseas markets and promote connections between travel trade partners. Besides taking part in various activities promoted by the organizer, MGTO invites key media and travel trade partners to the Macau Welcome Hours reception for updates on Macau’s tourism industry. MGTO will also participate in the Pan Pearl River Delta presentation, HKTB luncheon and PATA luncheon. Helena Fernandes will be present at meetings of UNWTO Task Force and UNWTO Tourism Resilience Committee. The five days of the exhibition will also include interviews with the media and appointments with tourism executives. MGTO also takes this opportunity to promote the celebrations of the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macau SAR this year to the long-haul markets, attracting more visitors from Europe to experience Macau’s unique blend of East and West cultures. Held at the capital of Germany, ITB Berlin has a history of 43 years. This year about 11,000 exhibitors from 180 countries and territories are participating in the exhibition, which is hailed as one of the largest travel fairs in the world. Exhibitors from around the globe present their destinations, products and services on a gigantic display area of 160,000 square meters. More than 280,000 visitors attended the exhibition last year.
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The 2009 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (2009 MIECF) will be held on 2-4 April at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. The Organizing Committee (OC) has received enrollment confirmation from 65 entities, and collected over 400 environmental projects for business matching. The OC believes that by attending 2009 MIECF, enterprises can exchange experience and work mutually for their benefits. As official Host Coordinators of 2009 MIECF, the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Environment Council are working hard to prepare for the Environmental Forum and Exhibition. With the support from government departments, enterprises and academic entities of Macao, Mainland China and Overseas, 65 entities have registered in the Exhibition, and IPIM has currently collected over 400 environmental projects covering production of renewable energy, air purifying technology and sewage treatment etc. Currently, almost 200 specialists from environmental industry have confirmed to attend the 2009 MIECF. They are from governmental departments, enterprises, academic organizations, official supporting organizations, environmental protection entities, chambers of commerce from Hong Kong, as well consulates of many countries in HK and Macao. The three-day 2009MIECF will emphasize on improving the development of global environmental industry and will also provide opportunities for enterprises to exchange experience with each other in this field. Businesses will also be created despite the difficult situation generated from the financial tsunami. The Official Host Co-ordinators believe that 2009 MIECF will provide a good environment for enterprises to promote and explore new business in the environmental protection industry. Incentive schemes are also provided to encourage all who are interested to take part in this green event. The activities of 2009 MIECF include Green Forum, Green Matching and Green Showcase, details as follows: Green Forum
Along with the changes in the environment and climate, people become more concerned about the environmental issues. Therefore three seminars involving Energy Saving and Emission Reduction, Disaster Management and the Green Business Co-operation and Finance will be held during the Green Forum of 2009 MIECF with professional speakers from all over the world to study and discuss on the topics. Green Matching
Macao will concentrate on transforming the industries of China into green industries, especially for the 9+2 provinces / regions, and the event will organize brand networking, matchmaking sessions and business promoting platforms to assist enterprises from Mainland China and overseas, especially those from Mainland China and European Union to build up business partnerships. Green Showcase
The exhibits profile of 2009 MIECF mainly include drinking water treatment techniques; household and manufacturing sewage management techniques; substitution energy, energy saving and reduction; from garbage to energy – refuse power incineration technology; air disposal treatment and desulphurization techniques of power–station; project financing, consultancy, accreditation; disaster management auditing and gas monitoring, etc. In addition, “green development agenda”, “green tourism”, “green energy”, “green traffic”, “green business opportunity” and “green ecology” of Macao will also be showcased during this Exhibition. Green Business Co-operation Day To Assist Enterprises to Seek Business Opportunities To further strengthen enterprises’ business co-operation in the area of environmental protection, the first day of 2009 MIECF has been designated as the Green Business Co-operation Day (the Green Business Day) by 2009 MIECF. The Green Business Day aims at assisting enterprises to conduct business co-operation negotiations, explore business opportunities and seek co-operation partners, and enhance production effectiveness by utilising environmental technology. The Green Business Co-operation Day (the Green Business Day) is organised by IPIM in co-operation with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Macao Chamber of Commerce, European Union Business Information Programme (EUBIP) and various international chambers of commerce, with the objective of assisting enterprises to seize business opportunities in environmental co-operation and create mutually beneficial business relations. At the Green Business and Finance Co-operation Forum held under the Green Business Day, representatives from financial and environmental enterprises and organisations in various regions will conduct detail discussion on the current status and prospects of the financing of environmental projects. Representatives from chambers of commerce and enterprises in the Mainland and Europe will attend the Enterprises Green Business Summit to discuss the issue of environmental co-operation between enterprises. In addition, the Green Business Networking Cocktail Reception and Contract Signing Ceremony will be held during the Green Business Co-operation Day on 2nd April, in an attempt to provide opportunities to discuss and exchange the ideas for enterprises from different regions, thus to strengthen the co-operation between both sizes in environmental industries. Exhibition opens to public
The Exhibition is opened to professionals on 2-4 April with its last day opened to the public from 09:00 to 18:00 as well. Registration for Exhibition can be done on site in the Exhibition. However, registration for attending the Forum and Seminars have to be done in advance by contacting the 2009 MIECF secretariat; Tel 8798-9675; Email: miecf2009@ipim.gov.mo, or visit the official website www.macaomiecf.com
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Green Business Co-operation Day－Gathering Unlimited Green Business Opportunities To further strengthen enterprises’ business co-operation in the area of environmental protection, the first day of 2009 MIECF has been designated as the Green Business Co-operation Day by 2009 MIECF. The Green Business Co-operation Day aims at assisting enterprises to conduct business co-operation negotiations and promote projects as well as business co-operation. The theme of the Green Business Co-operation Day is Gathering Unlimited Green Business Opportunities. The event is organised by IPIM in co-operation with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Macao Chamber of Commerce, European Union Business Information Programme (EUBIP) and various international chambers of commerce, with the objective of assisting enterprises to seize business opportunities in environmental co-operation and create mutually beneficial business relations. The activities in the Green Business Co-operation Day include The Green Business Co-operation and Finance Symposium, The Enterprise Green Business Summit and Green Business Networking Cocktail Reception and Contract Signing Ceremony. The Green Business Co-operation and Finance Symposium At the Green Business Co-operation and Finance Symposium, senior management and experts from environmental, financial institutions/enterprises in various regions will conduct in-depth study and discussions in the current status and future development of the environmental industry. Confirmed speakers of the event include Mr. Nigel Hall, Technical Adviser of Regional Office for the Pacific of the European Investment Bank (EIB) (on behalf of Dr. Carlos da Silva Costa, Vice-President of EIB), Mr. Ethan Ji Win Tzou, Vice-Chairman of Korea Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCCI), Chairman of Winfull Capital Korea Co Ltd and Mr. Stewart J. Ballard, Business Development Director (Asia) of Sindicatum Carbon Technology Limited. The Enterprise Green Business Summit Representatives of chambers of commerce and enterprises from Mainland China (Pan-Pearl River Delta Region) and various European countries will attend the Summit to discuss environmental co-operation between enterprises. The event will be held in the form of interactive discussion. Confirmed participants include Mr. João Marques da Cruz, Board Member of EDP Internacional (Portuguese enterprise), Dr. Dominic Orr, President and CEO of Aruba Networks (technology enterprise), Dr. Bernd Dallmann, Chief Executive of Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co KG, Mr. Douglas Woodring, Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce’s Environmental Committee in Hong Kong, Mr. Fred Larsen, Chairman of the Board, Lamor Group and Mr. Eddie (Edward W.C.) Leung, Managing Partner and Founder of Secured Environment Company (environmental technology enterprise in Silicon Valley). Green Business Networking Cocktail Reception and Contract Signing Ceremony The Green Business Networking Cocktail Reception and Signing Ceremony, another activity to be held under the Green Business Co-operation Day, is scheduled to be held at 5:30pm on 2 April at the 2009 MIECF venue. The activities aim at providing business communication and exchanges opportunities to further promote interactive co-operation among participating international enterprises and environmental sector. About the 2009 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (MIECF) The 2009 MIECF is hosted by the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, co-ordinated by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and Environment Council and supported by the Central Government of the People’s Republic of China and the collective participation of the local authorities in the Pan-Pearl River Delta region (9+2 provinces/regions) and beyond. The theme of this year’s MIECF is A Global Green Gathering, Environment-Business-Connection. The event combines ecological responsibility and social commitment that promotes optimism in the green future in Mainland China and other regions. For further enquiries, please contact the 2009 MIECF Secretariat on Tel: 853-8798 9675, Fax: 853-2872 8213, email:info@macaomiecf.com or visit the official website: www.macaomiecf.com.
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The Government attaches much importance to anything that promotes exchanges between Hong Kong and Macao, the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today. Asked about some Hong Kong residents who were denied entry to Macao, Mr Ho said the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, Mr Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, had expressed concern to him on behalf of himself and the Hong Kong SAR Government. Mr Ho said that Macao maintained a positive attitude in promoting Hong Kong-Macao relationship and placed much importance to anything that would promote exchanges. He said the Macao police had acted in accordance with the law and he believed they would not have made decisions that were detrimental to the exchanges between Hong Kong and Macao. He said he believed that the relationship between Hong Kong and Macao would be closer in the future.
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IFT strives to offer students various practical experiences in the Bachelor degree programmes, enabling students to master the requirements of the industry and be prepared for the challenges in the job market. All Bachelor degree programme students are required to complete a 6-month internship programme at tourism organisations in Macao or overseas in their 3rd year of study. Since the establishment of internship programme, performances of the students are excellent and feedbacks from the industry are very positive. There is an increase of participating corporations every year. In the previous academic year, over 20 organisations and corporations offer internship opportunities to IFT students, including the Administration of Airport, Air Macau, Crown Macau, Four Seasons Hotel, Grandview Hotel, Hong Thai Citizens Travel, Macao Cultural Centre, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, MGM Grand, New Sintra Tours, Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau, Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16, Wynn Resorts and other tourism organisations. To broaden the horizons of the students, IFT aggressively explore more opportunities of overseas internship. Students can choose to join the internship programme in large corporations in the USA, Europe, South East Asia, Hong Kong and mainland China to experience the local cultures. In the past, students have worked for UNESCO Asian Headquarter in Bangkok, British National Trust, Anantara Resort Maldives, Hyatt Dubai and other international well-known corporations. Since the academic year 2006/07, 17 students have completed various internship programmes at Disney World, Florida, USA. Currently, IFT and Disney World offer different internship programmes to students, including, · 6 months Internship programme of Food & Beverage Service at Disney World China Pavilion for year 3 students.
· 1 Year trainee programme of Merchandise and Food & Beverage Services for graduates.
· “International College Programme” offered by Florida State University and Disney World. Participating students will attend a 1-week extensive hospitality programme, followed by internships at the theme parks, water parks and resorts. Upon completion of the entire programme, a certificate from Florida State University will be issued. On 5 March, Disney World International Recruitment Team was invited to IFT for a talk on the internship programme, as well as a preliminary interview to the students. The recruitment team consists of Ms. Sue Sharpe, Disney International Recruitment Recruiter, Mr. Jeff Hickman, Team Leader of College Recruitment and Mr. Stephen Fan, General Manager of China Pavilion. This is the 4th consecutive year for Disney World to visit IFT for internship recruitment. Successful candidates will go to Disney World in Florida, USA to experience the operations of the theme parks, customer service and management culture, as well as chances to have cultural exchange with students around the globe. 3rd year Hotel Management student, Nyon Lam, has just completed his internship at Disney World last month. The internship experience in Disney is unforgettable. During the 6 months working for food & beverage service in China Pavilion, he experienced the culture of hospitality of Disney, appreciated the lives and working environment there, and got the chance to visit the places nearby. He believed that the experience will be beneficial in his future career in related areas. Disney International Recruitment Recruiter Ms. Sue Sharpe expressed that Disney is satisfied with the performance of IFT students in the past. She further stated that there will not be any quota for the recruitment and she hoped to receive more IFT students for this cultural exchange programme.
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government presents the 20th Macao Arts Festival (MAF) to be held between 2 and 30 May, 2009. Featuring more than 30 performances by artists from Portugal, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the USA, Canada and Singapore, the Festival season would not be complete without the ever-present spirit of performers from Macao and Mainland China, as well. In a clear show of support for local talent, Macao artists are given the opportunity to début works reflecting the region’s own performing arts scene, while on the international front, the Festival reaffirms itself as a window to the latest creative trends to emerge on stages the world over. The programme brings together theatre, dance, music, opera, cinema and multimedia arts, in a selection extending as well to lesser-known Chinese traditions like Qinqiang opera and Guangdong folk song. The 20th Macao Arts Festival opens with a Sadler’s Wells London production. Sutra (2 May, Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium) is a brand new dance work inspired by the skill, strength and spirituality of Buddhist Shaolin monks, presented by celebrated Flemish/Moroccan choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. Macao-born composer Lam Bun-Ching’s contemporary opera Wenji: Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute (3, 4 May at Dom Pedro V Theatre) is the first contemporary chamber opera to be presented in the Festival. Incorporating influences ranging from Chinese Beijing opera to contemporary Western music, the opera is based on the true story of poet/musician Cai Wenji from the Han Dynasty. The story follows a scholar's daughter who becomes a prize of war, torn between two worlds. The local professional orchestras make a substantial contribution to the programme, beginning on 8 May with the concert The Macao Orchestra and Cho-Liang Lin (MCCGA). The Orchestra, led by Lü Jia, along with international superstar violinist Cho-Liang Lin ravish the public with Prokofiev’s masterful Violin Concerto No. 2. Mr. Lin’s interpretation of this work is widely regarded as the “most authoritative”. The Orchestra continues its Chamber Music Series, performing Romantic Evening on 17 May (Dom Pedro V Theatre), a concert dedicated to the Romantic repertoire. The Macao Chinese Orchestra, in turn, is featured in three different concerts. Improvised sand animation by French artist David Myriam plays a central role in the first two concerts: Traditional Music Sceneries I / II (14, 15 May at Dom Pedro V Theatre). As the French artist creates fantastic and poetic figures in moving sand, his evolving creations are projected live, while the Macao Chinese Orchestra sets his art to music with a collection of inspiring and highly evocative pieces. The third concert, entitled Chimeras (24 May at the MCCGA), features four Macao premieres. The talent of the most outstanding Chinese contemporary composers is rivalled only by the genius of Maestro Pang Ka Pang in a showcase of rare and highly complex symphonic pieces. The Macao Folk Arts Association presents two concerts titled One Century of Guangdong Folk Song (23, 24 May at Lou Lim Ieoc Garden). Guangdong Folk Song, famous for its buoyant vitality and elegant rhythm, has become part and parcel of Lingnan’s (Guangdong) Intangible Cultural Heritage. The delightful assortment of original styles, ranging from Cantonese Narrative Singing to Naam Yam and Cantonese Opera, are all to be presented against the evocative backdrop of Lou Lim Ieoc Garden. On 10 May, MASS Ensemble and David Myriam present the show Earth Harp (at the MCCLA). The Earth Harp is the world’s largest stringed instrument. Its strings extend out from the stage to architectural elements at the rear of the auditorium, transforming the hall into one gigantic resonating instrument. MASS blends original music with cutting edge dance and visual arts to create an unforgettable multi-sensory theatrical experience. Live sand drawing is a spectacular and original sort of painting art. French sand animation artist David Myriam joins MASS Ensemble’s production in Macao, using moving sand to create continuously evolving fantastic and poetic figures. The German musical group Trio Bravo+ returns to the Festival with the cinema-live-concert Menschen am Sonntag (23 May at Mount Fortress). Half feature, half documentary, shot with amateur actors, People on Sundays is an outstanding work of the German silent movie avant-garde, directed by Curt and Robert Siodmak, Edgar G. Ulmer and Fred Zinnemann and based on a screenplay by Billy Wilder. The film follows the lives of a group of Berlin residents on a summer day at the Wannsee beach during the inter-war period. Trio Bravo+’s score takes up the easygoing, tempting atmosphere of a summer day and adds new rhythm to the images. Completing the musical palette of the Festival, !BAM Percussion! from Canada bring an eXplosion (28 May at Mount Fortress) that will electrify the crowd with its powerful rhythms and its deliriously funny sketches. The pulsating energy of BAM is contagious: through drumbeats and laughter, it overwhelms the audience. The Macanese Patois theatre group Dóci Papiaçám di Macau creates their now legendary caricature of local society with the premiere of Letrado Chapado? (Right, Mr. Counsellor) at the Macao Cultural Centre's Grand Auditorium on 16 and 17 May. This is the latest work by Miguel de Senna Fernandes, who for more than ten years has gathered Macanese friends to stage these hilarious stories about Macao. This time, the question asked is: What does it really mean to be a lawyer? The Macao General Association of Cantonese Opera and Music, dedicated to preserving and carrying forward the traditional art of Cantonese opera, presents a double-bill: It Is Forty Years Since the Dream Was Broken and A Forced Match on 9 and 10 May, respectively, at the popular Alegria Cinema, maintaining the Chinese opera tradition that has increasingly become a hallmark the MAF season. This year the Little Plum Blossom Qinqiang Opera Troupe brings an operatic style from the Mainland with Women Generals of the Yang Family (27 May at the MCCGA). This opera is a crystallisation of the national spirit, imbued with inspiring heroism. With a strong line-up of young artists in beautiful costumes, this fabulous performance will surely be one of the highlights of the festival. The showcase of local talent continues on 23 May with the concert Melodies of Youth 2009 at the MCCGA, an exciting showcase of classical and pop music from all over the world by students of the Macao Conservatory School of Music, including winners of the Macao Young Musicians Competition. Macao's own professional theatre company Theatre Farmers stages Eugène Ionesco’s Rhinocéros, a play written in 1959 (6 May at the MCCGA). The play, which belongs to the school of drama known as the Theatre of the Absurd, is often read as a response to the sudden upsurge of Fascism, Communism and Nazism during the events preceding World War II and explores the themes of conformity, culture, philosophy and morality. The Macao Fringe Club, another local theatre company, presents Sunrise by Cao Yu (21, 22 May at the Macao Cultural Centre Small Auditorium). Published in 1936, the second play written by this famous contemporary Chinese playwright describes the dark life of the Chinese people during the period from 1931 to 1935 under the reactionary rule of the Kuomintang. International theatre is also present in the festival. New British theatre company 1927 presents Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (8, 9, 10 May at Dom Pedro V Theatre). This play of cabaret theatre cleverly combines live music, performance and storytelling with films and animations. Using the aesthetic of silent film, a series of comic vignettes unfold in which the performers interact with the animations. Drama Box Ltd. from Singapore and the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre join forces to present Drift (22 May at the MCCGA). This tale of two cities – Singapore and Shanghai – spans three generations where cultures and memories are contested in the speed of modernisation. It features a stellar cast including Zhou Yemang and Lim Kay Siu. A family favourite, puppet theatre was not forgotten on this Festival programme. Between 15 and 17 May, the Lou Kau Mansion hosts the Bonecos de Santo Aleixo from Portugal. The “dynasty” of these puppets dates from the middle of the 19th century. They are manipulated by a “family” of professional actors which guarantees the authenticity of the performances. In Macao they will perform The Story of the Creation of the World and The Story of the Birth of Jesus. The Spanish puppet theatre company El Retablo presents Animales, a concert of small histories concerning the animal world, on 23 and 24 May at the Macao Conservatory Auditorium. These shows are a celebration for the senses of the child, a theatrical proposal as a game between diverse elements, a game that will produce in the child an intellectual, emotional and aesthetic experience. Comedic theatre is also featured in the festival with Ennio Marchetto (28, 29 May at MCCSA), a world renowned and awarded Italian comedian who has created his own theatrical language mixing mime, dance, music and quick change costumes made out of cardboard and paper. In 18 years Ennio has performed in over 70 countries for more than a million people, and his show has received numerous awards and international critical acclaim. The Festival also offers multidisciplinary performances. Canadian company L’Arsenal à Musique presents L’Arche (24 May at the MCCSA). In a series of tableaux, The Ark gently invites us to reflect upon the slow crumbling of the world around us. Using music, projections and performance to celebrate life, The Ark takes a critical look at the delicate balance between man and nature. Davy and Kristin McGuire present Silent Movie (23, 24, 28 May at Lou Kau Mansion), a multimedia performance that mixes projections and live acting and is viewed by the audience through holes made in the front wall of a huge wooden box. The couple also presents A Study of Eating Habits, an interactive video installation designed as a life-sized, immersive, walk-through installation which depicts the story of a couple’s relationship through the meals they eat (23~28 May at Lou Kau Mansion). Dance rivals music as one of the main highlights of the Festival. Portuguese contemporary dance company Quorum Ballet (12 May at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium) has a reputation for presenting subtle works and performances of quality. Impacto is a piece about how human beings are changing in the modern world – the often isolating world of communication and technology – and how that world affects their identity. Last but not least, the performing group bringing the 20th edition of this Festival to a close is British Hofesh Shechter Company (29 and 30 May at the MCCGA). Hofesh Shechter exploded on to the international dance scene last year with his acclaimed works In your rooms and Uprising. Political, urban and uncompromisingly direct, his choreography has a raw, distinctive edge that has earned him a well-deserved reputation as “a true original” (The Guardian). The performing arts contribute further to the MAF itinerary with a series of shows to take place in the north of Macao between 15 and 17 May. The Outdoor Performing Arts Showcase, to be held at Iao Hon Garden, brings together international and Chinese artists who present a marathon of performances falling just outside the mainstream, including Chrome from Australia, Jamie Adkins from Canada, Urbano Drums from Portugal and Mime Crime from Germany, in addition to The Macao Conservatory Drama School and local and Mainland China Cantonese opera performers and musicians. Also provided are workshops and conferences supporting the events, with the objective of stimulating public interest in the arts. In accordance with a long-standing MAF tradition, rehearsals for some of the performances will be open to the public. The Macao Government Tourist Office kindly supports promotion of the 20th Macao Arts Festival in Mainland China and overseas. The performances held at the Macao Cultural Centre are supported by the Macao Cultural Centre’s rental subsidy scheme. Tickets for the 20th Macao Arts Festival will be available after 10am on 29 March 2009 at all Kong Seng Ticketing outlets. Telephone and online bookings will be available from 1pm on 29 March. There will be a variety of discount plans (up to 40%). Detailed publicity materials are available at ticket counters. For more information please check the website of the Cultural Affairs Bureau at www.icm.gov.mo/fam. Information (853) 2855 5555 in Macao; (852) 2380 5083 in Hong Kong Online Reservations: www.macauticket.com
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Organised by the museums in Macao and co-organised by the Macao Digital Photography Association, the “Museums and Tourism” Photography Contest of the International Museum Day 2009 is now accepting entries. All local residents and tourists are cordially invited to participate. Entry submission will be closed by the end of March. The “International Museum Day of Macao” is a major annual event organised by around 20 local museums in Macao. To celebrate the IMD this year, a photography contest themed “Museums and Tourism” is held in wish to provide both tourists and local residents a chance to present the aesthetic and dynamic aspects of local museums through photographs with personal sentiments after visiting the museums. Submitted entries can focus on the exterior, special features or activities held in any museum in Macao. This contest accepts both “Public group” & “Student group” entry, there are 6 awards for each group and the 3 winners awarded “Best of the contest” in the public group will receive a certificate and MOP 2,000, while the five “Best of the contest” winners in the student group will receive MOP 600 book voucher along with a certificate. The awards will be presented in the opening ceremony of the “Museum carnival” which marks the beginning of the “International museum Day 2009” on the 3rd of May. Detailed regulations, submission locations and the application form can be obtained and downloaded at the “Museum of Macao” website (http://www.museums.gov.mo). For any queries please call 8798 4181.
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Being one of the public higher institutions in Macao, Institute For Tourism Studies strives to offer comprehensive assistance to students to encourage them to further their studies and motivate them to join the internship or exchange programme overseas and contribute to the society in the future. To provide financial assistance to mainland students with excellent academic results, in order to encourage them to further their studies in Macao, IFT will establish a new scholarship in the academic year 2009/10 to these outstanding students. Each year, one scholarship will be awarded tuition fee and living expense. To continue receiving this sponsorship until graduation, the student will be required to achieve a GPA of 2.5 or above each year. Mainland student who is granted this scholarship will be fully exempted from tuition fee, hostel fee, as well as meal expenses at the student cafeteria. In addition, a monthly allowance of MOP1,000 will also be granted, sponsored by IFT-BNU Credit Card foundation. High school graduates from the mainland who have attended the “Unified Exams of Admissions of National Universities and Colleges” and attain a score up to or above the first level standard of admission are eligible to apply for the scholarship. To show support to students affected by the Sichuan earthquake last year, students from Sichuan will have priority to apply in 2009/10. For many years, various associations, individuals and corporations have shown their support to IFT by sponsoring a wide range of scholarships to over 50 distinguished students. These sponsors include the Macao Foundation, Macau Government Tourist Office, Banco Nacional Ultramarino, Henry Fok Foundation, Macau Polytex Group, Mr. Cheung Lup Kwan, SKAL International – Macau, Ocean-Tech Group, Venetian Macau Limited, Cultural Affairs Bureau and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute. IFT has been persistent in providing quality education and making contributions to the industry and the society. IFT anticipates that, with the establishments of various scholarships, students are encouraged to learn and achieve higher academic goals, or participate in exchange programme and overseas internship programme, so as to broaden their horizons and be prepared for their future responsibilities in the tourism industry.
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