If you love water, racing and sunshine, check out the 2008 Macau International Dragon Boat Races on Nam Van Lake on the first day of June. If buildings, plazas and fortresses are more to your taste, sign up for the Historical Centre of Macau Guided Tour Service on China Cultural Heritage Day. Or visit a special Arts & Crafts Demonstration in Lou Kau Mansion - you can actually touch the puppet-heads being made by skilled artisans and feel the softness of the amazing Fa Embroidery.

"Plato in the Land of Confucius - Greek Art from the Louvre" is now exhibiting in the Macau Museum of Art. "Scent of Lotus Perfumes the City of Macau - 8th Macau Lotus Flower Festival" - themed around the "Huoju" flower because of its Olympic torch shape - celebrates the upcoming Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, concert-lovers will not want to miss the Royal Swedish Ballet performing Tchaikovsky's immortal "Swan Lake" with Macau Orchestra. Chris Botti goes Italian for his acclaimed show "A Date with Jazz", while Air Supply and Hacken Lee return to these shores with brand new acts.

Aficionados of local art will have a field day with "A Retake of CREB Installations' Creation", "We, Mother's Art", "Soliloquy of Nature - Works by James Chu" and "Puncture Vessel" - Oil Painting Exhibition', while history buffs and poets will want to experience Portugal Day, Camões Day and Portuguese Communities Day in Camões Garden, a sanctuary of serenity in the heart of the city.

"JMA Macau 2008" presents glamorous jewellery from around the world for fashionable people - while the betrothed will find all kinds of products and services at the 16th Wedding, Banquet, Beauty & Jewellery Expo.

A melting pot of East and West, Macau hosts a myriad of different religious parades. A parade of gongs and drums will circle Sai Van Lake Square for the reverential Praying Festival for the 800th Anniversary of the JiGong Buddha, while a mass parade will be held for the Feast of Na Cha in the Ruins of St. Paul's and Senado Square. The annual Procession of St. Anthony will also take to the streets this month. For more stories about the territory's numerous and varied Catholic Churches, a Free Guided Tour of Macau Churches is provided.

10 Jun - Portugal Day, Camões Day and Portuguese Communities Day

Camões Day commemorates the date of Luís de Camões' death on June 10 and is also designated as Portugal's National Day. The one-eyed Camões, an adventurer, is reputed to have written the epic Portuguese poem "Os Lusíadas" (known as The Lusiads) in Camões Garden while he stayed in Macau. The poem recounts the 16th Century explorations of the Portuguese that brought fame and fortune to the Iberian peninsula and is considered one of the most important works in Portuguese literature.

Since 1977, Portugal Day, Camões Day and Portuguese Communities Day have been jointly celebrated by Portuguese emigrants living all around the world as well as in Macau.

14 Jun - China Cultural Heritage Day

In 2006, the State Council of China designated the second weekend of June as "China's Cultural Heritage Day", and organizes celebratory activities on this occasion every year. This year, the Historic Centre of Macau - one of the World Heritage sites of China - forms the perfect backdrop for several free guided tours in the district introduced by specially trained "ambassadors".

Organizer: Cultural Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8399 6699
http://www.icm.gov.mo

15 Jun - Procession of St. Anthony

St. Anthony's Feast is celebrated in Macau every year. On the Sunday evening of June 15, followers and well-wishers will walk in solemn procession from the church to the idyllic surroundings of nearby Camões Garden bearing the statue of St. Anthony. On completing the mass, the procession will return to the church.

Although St. Anthony's Church is commonly referred to as Fa Vong Tong (Church of Flowers), St. Anthony himself is a "military" saint and a "Captain" in the Portuguese army. He is revered as the Saint of Marriage by Catholics, inspiring many believers to hold their wedding ceremonies at the church. The church was built in 1558 to 1560, making it one of the three oldest churches in Macau, together with St. Lawrence's Church and the Cathedral.

Time: 6:00 p.m.
Starting point: St. Anthony's Church
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2857 3732

18 to 20 Jun - 800th Anniversary of JiGong Buddha

To celebrate the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and Praying Festival for the 800th Anniversary of the JiGong Buddha, the praying ceremony will be held in Sai Van Lake Square at 9:30am on June 19, followed by a street procession at 2:30pm, which features costumed children on stilts that will wind its way through the streets in tandem with dragon and lion dances.

The JiGong Buddha Cultural Exhibition is held at the Exhibition Center of the Venetian Macau-Resort-Hotel from 11:00am to 10:00pm during June 18 to 20.

Organizer: Tung Cheng Yuen Buddhist Society
Co-organizer: Dejiaohui Ji Xiu Ge Association
Telephone enquiries: (853) 6661 3145
Admission free to all activities

21 Jun - Feast of Na Cha

On the 18th day of the fifth month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, Macau celebrates the Feast of Na Cha, one of the largest festivals in the territory. On that day, you can see the Procession of Na Cha as it proceeds from Na Cha Temple, files along Rua da Palha, the Ruins of St. Paul', and Senado Square before returning to the starting point. Lion dance performances comprise part of this popular cultural event.

Telephone enquiries:
Association of Si San Kit I Tong: (853) 2832 2907

31 May, 1, 7 & 8 Jun - 2008 Macau International Dragon Boat Races

The annual Dragon Boat Races are about to start this coming May on Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre once again in celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival. This year the duration of the competition is extended from 3 to 4 days and one special race is newly added: 2000 meter-round-goal competition, in which each dragon boat team is required to sail round the goal and finish the 2000 meter leg. Dragon boat competition is a traditional Chinese activity. Capturing the attention of thousands of visitors every year, local teams as well as others from nearby regions vie for both the championship and public applause.

Along Nam Van Lake are some pubs and restaurants where you can enjoy the atmosphere of the festival while having a sip of coffee by the lake during the daytime; every Saturday and Sunday evening, the Cybernetic Fountain on Nam Van Lake will also have music and laser performance projected on the water screen.

Time: 10:00 a.m.
Admission free
Venue: Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre
Organizers: Macau Sport Development Board, Macau, China Dragon Boat Association
Co-organizers: Civic & Municipal Affairs Bureau, Public Administration & Civil Service Bureau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2858 0762, 2870 1649
http://www.sport.gov.mo

3 Feb to 22 Jun - Taipa Flea Market

Every Sunday, visitors can go to the 'Taipa Flea Market' located in Bombeiros Square in the heart of the old village. Accessories, memorial gifts,  toys, clothes, and other products have been assembled here, attracting not only locals but many visitors searching for ‘treasure’. A street show performs on a fortnightly basis.

Visitors need only hop on a bus or take a cab to the village before exploring the area in earnest. Rua do Cunha boasts many Portuguese buildings situated in streets crisscrossing each other like a patchwork quilt. Bring your camera and an artistic eye for photographs that will surely capture the romance of another, slower-paced time.

Time: Every Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 
Admission free
Venue: Bombeiros Square, Taipa
Organizer: Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries for Taipa Flea Market: (853) 2833 7676 
Telephone enquiries for Street Show: (853) 8988 4100

1 & 21 Jun - Two Concerts by Macau Orchestra

Howard Blake is one of the most popular and prolific English composers alive. In 1982, he wrote the words and much-loved music for the animated children's TV film and CD "The Snowman". Macau Orchestra performs his "The Snowman" in the "Festive Series - Children's Day Concert: Music from Fairytales", to celebrate International Children's Day on June 1.

The Macau Orchestra also performs "Chamber Music Series - 20th Century Music Parade" on June 21 in St. Dominic's Church, featuring American composers Aaron Copland's "Sextet", Walter Piston's "Wind Quintet", and English composer Michael Tippett's "String Quartet No. 1".

Festive Series - Children's Day Concert: Music from Fairytales
Date: 1 Jun
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Venue: Grand Auditorium, Macau Cultural Centre, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Admission: MOP$40
Duration: Approx. 1 hour (without intermission)

Chamber Music Series - 20th Century Music Parade
Date: 21 Jun
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Admission free
Venue: St. Dominic's Church
Duration: Approx. 1 hour 10 minutes (without intermission)
Tickets distributed outside St. Dominic's Church one hour before concert starts.

Organizer: Cultural Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8399 6699
http://www.icm.gov.mo/om

6 to 8 Jun - Air Supply Returns

Following their successful concert in Macau last October, Australian crooners Air Supply return to the local stage from June 6 to 8.

Air Supply has performed on the international circuit for more than three decades but still manage to retain their popularity with audiences throughout the world who never tire of all-time hits such as "All Out of Love", "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" and "Without You".

Macau will be the first stop in Asia for Air Supply's World Tour 2008, after which they will go on to the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Chinese Taiwan, Thailand, Israel, Brazil, Canada and the USA.

Time: 8:30 p.m.
Venue: Sands Macau Theater, Monte Carlo Square, No.203
Admission: MOP$680, 580
Organizer: Venetian Macau-Resort-Hotel
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2882 8818
http://www.venetianmacaotickets.com

Duration: Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes

29 May to 29 Jun - Zhejiang Arts & Crafts in Lou Kau Mansion

Taishun in Zhejiang is renowned as the "Home of Puppets", an art that draws deeply from its folk roots and local features. Puppet shows have been popular in Taishun since the late Ming Dynasty and the early Qing Dynasty, with artists proficient not only in performing puppet shows but in puppet-making. Ji Tianyuan - a prop designer and producer for the Yue Opera Troupe of Wenzhou, who was recognised as one of the "Ten Best Young Folk Artists in Wenzhou" in 2003 - shares his experiences of puppet-head making with visitors.

Fa embroidery - which uses the hair of young girls and is also known as Mo (Hair) embroidery - originated in the Tang Dynasty. The texture and feel of the work is achieved by varying the density of stitching and allocating hair of different hues to the right place in the image. Works of this genre are mostly collected by national museums or presented as diplomatic gifts. As a senior artisan and an Arts and Crafts Master in Zhejiang, Meng Yongguo has creatively expanded Fa embroidery from the monochrome to the polychrome, with unique stitching, and his works have been exhibited in the USA, Malaysia and the Netherlands.

This month, visitors can participate in a traditional handicrafts folk art show and workshop including Puppet-head Making (May 29 to June 15) and Fa Embroidery (June 17 to 29) in Lou Kau Mansion, an imposing building constructed in the style of the Lingnan region and listed as part of the Historic Centre of Macau.

Arts & Crafts Demonstration:
Time: noon to 7:00 p.m. (Tuesdays to Fridays)
10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays)

3 Jun - Chris Botti - "A Date with Jazz"

Trumpeter Chris Botti is a talented composer and performer who has created a series of recordings which have made him a virtual genre-of-one in the realm of contemporary jazz, while capturing the attention of the pop music world.

Inspired by the sounds and atmosphere of Italy, a country where the North American trumpeter spent two years of his childhood, Chris Botti now brings to the Macau stage "Italia", a vibrant and sensual collection of songs inspired by sources as diverse as classical opera. Botti and his musicians are destined to conjure up an evening of evocative atmosphere linking the worlds of jazz, pop and the classics.

Time: 8:00 p.m.
Venue: Grand Auditorium, Macau Cultural Centre, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Admission: MOP$250, 200, 150, 80
Organizer: Macau Cultural Centre
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2870 0699
http://www.ccm.gov.mo

Duration: Approx. 1 hour 35 minutes (without intermission)

7 Jun - Hacken's Concert Hall

Hong Kong singer Hacken Lee remains one of the most accomplished Canto-pop vocalists on today's music scene, with fans ever eager to hear his all-time classic love songs.

With 11 sell-out shows during Lunar New Year in Hong Kong giving him a flying start to the year, he brings his "Concert Hall Live Tour" to Macau for a one-night only performance at the Cotai Arena.

Time: 8:00 p.m.
Venue: Cotai Arena, The Venetian Macau-Resort-Hotel
Admission: MOP$1200, 880, 480, 280
Organizer: The Venetian Macau-Resort-Hotel
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2882 8818
http://www.venetianmacaotickets.com

27 & 28 Jun - Royal Swedish Ballet - Swan Lake

Certain love stories are evergreen, and for ballet dancers, "Swan Lake" remains the unassailable favourite in its tale of the mesmeric love of Prince Siegfried for Princess Odette. Macau now has the opportunity to watch this heart-rending love story set to music by Tchaikovsky, the renowned maestro of ballet composition. His passionate music, performed live by the Macau Orchestra, accompanies the flawless interpretation of one of the world's most prestigious and popular ballet companies. The Royal Swedish Ballet, fourth oldest in the world and the largest in Sweden, will debut in Macau with historic with new costumes in this full-length performance of the unsurpassed ballet classic.

Time: 8:00 p.m.
Venue: Grand Auditorium, Macau Cultural Centre, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Admission: MOP$250, 200, 150, 80
Organizer: Macau Cultural Centre
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2870 0699
http://www.ccm.gov.mo

Duration: Approx. 2 hours 50 minutes (with two 25-minute intermissions)

11 May to 8 Jun - "Retake of CREB Installations' Creation" with Coffee

Ox Warehouse - part of the Old Ladies' House Art Space - holds regular exhibitions promoting local art, and now a newly-opened coffee shop serves beverages to visitors every Saturday and Sunday afternoon between 3:00pm and 7:00pm.

"Retake of CREB Installations' Creation" exhibition - currently running until June 8 - features imaginative dance movements whilst performers simultaneously create their first installation.

Opening Hours: noon to 7:00 p.m. (Closed on Tuesdays)
Admission free
Venue: Ox Warehouse, Intersection of Av. do Coronel Mesquita and Av. do Almirante Lacerda
Organizer: Old Ladies' House Art Space
Sponsors: Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Henry Fok Foundation
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2853 0026
http://oxwarehouse.blogspot.com

14 to 30 Jun - "Puncture Vessel" - Oil Painting Exhibition

Macau-born Lui Chak Hong, a traditional Chinese medicine doctor practicing in the United Kingdom, presents the "Puncture Vessel" oil painting exhibition at Creative Macau.

He has spent years studying the esoteric movements of the human body governed by the effects of feng shui, seasons of the year, Yin and Yang, the Chinese elements and zodiac animals of China based on Chinese philosophy. This exhibition highlights the subtleties of the foregoing as well as the features of acupuncture practiced in traditional Chinese medicine.

Opening Hours: 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Closed on Sundays)
Admission free
Venue: Creative Macau, G Floor, Macau Cultural Centre, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Organizer: Center for Creative Industries
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2875 3282
http://www.creativemacau.org.mo

14 to 17 Jun - The Glittering Event - JMA Macau 2008

Following the successful launch of JCK Las Vegas, jewellery buyers and sellers can now look forward to JMA Macau 2008 at The Venetian Macau-Resort-Hotel from June 14 to 17. JMA Macau is destined to become one of the leading jewellery sourcing events in Asia, with buyers and participating companies expected from all over the world.

Time: 14 Jun - 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
15 & 16 Jun - 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
17 Jun - 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Admission free
Venue: Exhibition Center, Venetian Macau-Resort-Hotel
Organizers: Hong Kong Jewelry Manufacturers' Association, Macau Goldsmith's Guild
Telephone enquiries: Hong Kong (852) 2766 3002
http://www.jewelryshows.org/mo/index.html

Only visitors aged 16 or above admitted

14 to 23 Jun - 8th Macau Lotus Flower Festival

The lotus, known in Chinese as "he hua" or "lian hua" or the ancient name "fu rong", is one of China's top ten flower species. There has always been a strong kinship between Macau and the ubiquitous lotus: places, streets and historical buildings often take their name from the heavenly flower – High Lotus Mountain, Lin Fung Temple (Temple of the Lotus), Lin Kai Temple (Lotus Stream Temple), Lotus Bridge and Lotus Square.

In the "Scent of Lotus Perfumes the City of Macau - 8th Macau Lotus Flower Festival", "Huoju", Olympic torch has been specially selected as the theme flower to celebrate the upcoming Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. When in bloom, the colourful "Huoju" protrudes from the water in a shape reminiscent of the Olympic Torch.

Visitors are invited to participate in planting demonstrations, as well as lotus photography exhibition, lotus gourmet exhibition, lotus dinner and eco-tour of lotus during this period.

For details, please refer to organizer.
Organizer: Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Telephone Enquiries: (853) 8504 1209

28 & 29 Jun - 16th Wedding, Banquet, Beauty & Jewellery Expo

The Expo features about 100 booths and facilitates the appearance of wedding products and services from countries and regions such as Macau, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Chinese Taiwan, Japan and even Guam.

The Expo also includes entertaining programmes such as wedding gown shows, Catwalk Show of flower girls and ring bearers, fashionable make-up and hairstyle demonstrations for brides, and professional seminars on beauty in addition to various games and competitions.

Time: noon to 9:00 p.m.
Admission free
Venue: 4th Floor Exhibition Hall, Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre
Organizer: A Plus PR and Advertising Company
Supporting entity: Macau Convention & Exhibition Association
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2870 3930, 6611 1339
http://www.macautower.com.mo
http://www.mcea.org.mo

3 May to 2 Jun - Exhibitions at Creative Macau

Portuguese-born Isabel Rasquinho has worked as a professional fine arts printmaker for more than 30 years. She now resides in Macau and has mounted several exhibitions here, with many of her works having been snapped up by private collectors and cultural institutions. From May 3 to 21, art enthusiasts can visit her solo exhibition "Connivances" at Creative Macau.

Another event titled "ConstrAction Exhibition" - a group exhibition of furniture design by various artists - will run from May 23 to June 2.

Opening Hours: 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Closed on Sundays)      
Admission free
Venue: Creative Macau, G Floor, Macau Cultural Centre, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Organizer: Center for Creative Industries
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2875 3282
http://www.creativemacau.org.mo

11 May to 8 Jun - We, Mother's Art

"We, Mother's Art" examines the consequences of a city that has changed so fast that people find they cannot handle their family relationships. In this exhibition, local artists take inspiration for their art from the theme of "Mother". Some artists create work from life and memory, some invite their mothers to help create their artwork...

Opening Hours: 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Closed on Mondays)
Admission free
Venue: Poor Space, Rua de Espectação de Almeida, No. 3A, Edf. Son Heng R/C
Organizer: Step Out   
Sponsors: Macau Foundation, Henry Fok Foundation
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2835 1572
http://poorspace.wordpress.com

12 May to 15 Jun - Soliloquy of Nature - Works by James Chu

An active local artist, James Chu, over the years, has dedicated himself to the promotion of Macau's artistic and cultural development, with his works recognised by many local and overseas design and art awards. In a rapidly developing city, the individual's impressions of Nature is becoming more and more obscure thus  the exhibition "Soliloquy of Nature" is a clear statement by the artist of his own existing condition.

Through a series of abstract paintings, outdoor sculptures and indoor video installations, Chu invites the observer to transcend appearances in order to arrive at the inner world of existence. This display of works has also expanded from the traditional gallery space to the roof top bar area, and some of his works can even be seen on the street - in the lively and artistic environment that is St Paul's district of Macau.

Opening Hours: noon to 8:00 p.m. (Closed on Mondays)
Admission free
Venue: St. Paul's Fine Arts, Trav. de S. Paulo, No. 3, 5 & 7
Organizer: Art for All   
Sponsor: Macau Foundation
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2842 2842
http://www.stpaulscorner.com

19 Apr to 15 Jun - 7th Macau Design Biennial

The Macau Design Biennial seeks to encourage local designers and facilitate the development of the creative industry. This year, the 7th Macau Design Biennial will showcase selected works including designs of books, posters and 3-D objects from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (No admission after 6:30 p.m., closed on Mondays)
Admission free
Venue: Ground floor and 1st floor Gallery, Macau Museum of Art, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Organizers: Macau Museum of Art of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Macau Designers Association
Co-organizer: Macau Foundation
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8791 9814
www.artmuseum.gov.mo

19 Apr to 1 Jun - Quietness, Thoughts, Words - Painting by Iam Wai Man

Young local artist Iam Wai Man was awarded Best Creative Special Prize and Best Work Prize during the XXIII Collective Exhibition of Macau Artists for her Chinese painting "Maiden's Prayer", in which Iam employed traditional Chinese brushwork to depict a portrait of the Mother Mary. The exhibition "Quietness, Thoughts, Words - Painting of Iam Wai Man Winner of the XXIII Collective Exhibition of Macau Artists"  features over 40 works created from 2004 to 2008, including a large number of Gongbi (elaborate brushwork) and Mogu (boneless-style) works.

Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Closed on Mondays, open on public holidays)
Admission free
Venue: Pavilion, Lou Lim Ieoc Garden, Est. de Adolfo Loureiro No. 10
Organizer: Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8988 4100, 2882 7882

24 May to 13 Jul - Exhibition of Art Works of the Members of Macau Artists Society 2008

The Macau Artists Society, one of the arts institutions with the longest history in Macau, is marking its 52nd anniversary. With a youthful heart and an innovative mind, the members of the society have devoted themselves to creativity along the years.

The members of the Society have pooled together more than 70 art pieces for display. Different subject matters are expressed through an array of media like watercolors, oil painting, prints, sketches, Chinese painting, calligraphy and others.

Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Closed on Mondays, open on public holidays)
Admission free
Venue: Temporary Exhibition Gallery of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Av. Almeida Ribeiro No. 163
Organizer: Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8988 4100, 2882 7882

12 Apr to 13 Jul - Plato in the Land of Confucius - Greek Art from the Louvre

In a timely lead-up to the Beijing Olympic Games 2008, 'Plato in the Land of Confucius - Greek Art from the Louvre' - showcasing 134 priceless works of art including marble sculptures, pottery and gold vessels - will be exhibited by the Macau Museum of Art for the coming three months.

Artifacts presented in this exhibition were produced from 500 BC to 400 AD, and include works of paramount importance in the history of ancient Greek art such as the 'Athlete holding a discus',  'Athena Parthenos' and 'Aphrodite' marble sculptures. The exhibits artfully embody the wisdom of Greece, the root of Western art and the spirit of the Olympic Games. Moreover, this exhibition ranks as the largest, highest calibre collection ever sanctioned by the Louvre for display in an overseas venue. Indeed, some of these treasures have never been seen outside of France before.

'Greek Art from the Louvre'  is a tour exhibition that commenced in Asia last year, with Beijing accorded the honour of first exhibiting the artifacts, followed by Singapore and now Macau. It is also one of the events of 'Le French May'.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (No admission after 6:30 p.m., closed on Mondays) 
Admission: MOP$5 (Free on Sundays) 
Venue: 2nd & 3rd floor Gallery of Special Exhibitions, Macau Museum of Art, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE 
Organizers: Macau Museum of Art of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau of Macau SAR, Louvre Museum of France 
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8791 9814
www.artmuseum.gov.mo

29 Apr to 3 Aug - Shiwan Ceramics Exhibition

Shiwan ceramic sculptures are highly representative of the Lingnan architectural folk art of the southern Guangdong Province from the late Qing Dynasty. Historical stories, myths, legends and popular Cantonese operas of the time often served as inspiration and were subsequently embodied in the form of three-dimensional sculptures or high relief ceramics on the roof ridges of buildings. Rich in the folk tradition of Lingnan, they were very popular adornments in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau.

In this exhibition, a wide range of colourful ceramics will be displayed including a roof ridge of characters in a Cantonese opera over 7 metres long; ceramic sculptures of other mythical characters such as dragon fish and assorted beasts will also be on display.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (No admission after 6:30 p.m., closed on Mondays)
Admission: MOP$5 (Free on Sundays)
Venue: 4th floor Gallery of Chinese Porcelain, Macau Museum of Art, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Organizer: Macau Museum of Art of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau     
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8791 9814
www.artmuseum.gov.mo

15 May to 24 Aug - 2008 Macau Annual Art Exhibition

This exhibition, aimed at inviting art creations of different media and to illustrate Macau's diversified and harmonious culture, is held during the 19th Macau Arts Festival. This year, totally 108 art works from different media including Chinese painting, calligraphy, Western painting, photography, sculpture, installation and poster are displayed. In addition to the selected entries, "Top Ten Entries" will also be chosen to join exhibitions overseas, hoping that artists with excellent works created locally would be encouraged.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Open on public holidays)
Admission free
Venue: Tap Seac Gallery, Av. do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida, No. 95
Organizer: Cultural Affairs Bureau   
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2833 5140
http://www.macauart.net

3 May to 24 Aug - Seal-Engravings Collection Exhibition

In China, seals were used as early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. After the State of Qin had unified China, the seals of emperors, princes and marquises, which were usually made from jade, were known as "Xi", while seals used by the intelligentsia, gentry and the common people were known as "Yin". In general, seal script is the form of characters used to engrave seals. First, the seal engraver will write down the characters before engraving them onto the seals, lending this art form the name of seal-engraving. It is a kind of calligraphic skill, in which an engraving knife is used instead of brush and ink.

Many artists and collectors still amass seals, an ancient art form that has withstood the test of time. In the 19th and 20th centuries, several seal engravers made a revolutionary breakthrough in their works. In the exhibition "Ancient Forms in Contemporary Souls - Seal-Engravings Collection by Prestigious Chinese Artists", a rich collection of exquisite seals by over 40 Chinese seal-engravers of modern times is on display.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Closed on Mondays, open on public holidays)
Admission free
Venue: Exhibition Gallery, the Taipa Houses-Museum, Av. da Praia, Taipa
Organizer: Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8988 4100, 2882 7882
http://housesmuseum.iacm.gov.mo

4 Apr to Aug - Variety of Arts on Tea Culture

Tea Culture is a precious Chinese tradition. Macau was once a major tea exporter, and even today, many people in Macau still love Chinese tea. Macau Tea Culture House holds "Exhibition of Convergence of Tea Fragrance & Praises in the Lotus City - Poetry and Couplet Writing Contest" to express the uniqueness of tea in the forms of poetry, distich and calligraphy. 53 pieces of awarded tea art will be on display, and free guided tours (Cantonese) will be provided on the first and third Sundays of each month, at 3 to 4 pm.

Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Closed on Mondays, open on public holidays)
Admission free
Venue: Macau Tea Culture House, Lou Lim Ieoc Garden, Est. de Adolfo Loureiro No. 10
Organizer: Macau Tea Culture House of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8394 3782, 2858 6250

Permanent Exhibitions

Handover Gifts Exhibition

This exhibition displays handover gifts presented by the provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and special administrative regions of China to the Macau Special Administrative Region, and reflect strong regional features and unique artistry.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
(No admission after 6:30 p.m.,closed on Mondays)
Admission free
Venue: Handover Gifts Exhibition Gallery,
Handover Gifts Museum of Macau, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8504 1800
http://handovermuseum.iacm.gov.mo

Historical Paintings of Macau in the 19th Century

This exhibition displays oil paintings, watercolours and sketches with humans and scenery as their theme. They provide vivid and clear visual information that cannot be neglected for the study of the modern history of Guangdong and for the study of Chinese painting since the Qing dynasty.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00p.m.
(No admission after 6:30p.m., closed on Mondays)
Admission: MOP$5 (Free on Sundays)
Venue: 3rd floor, the Macau Museum of Art, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8791 9814
www.artmuseum.gov.mo

Bryde's Whalebone Exhibition

A twelve meters male Bryde's Whale is now on display in a unique exhibition in Seac Pai Van Park in Coloane. After it was found stranded on the shoreline five years ago. Its body was taken to Guangzhou's Sun Yat-sen University to preserve it in the form of a skeletal specimen and thanks to painstaking efforts has been returned for the public.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Closed on Mondays)
Admission free
Venue: Exhibition Room, Seac Pai Van Park, Coloane
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2859 5481
www.museumaritimo.gov.mo

Dwellings of Hope Cove: A Happy End

The Taipa Houses Museum, comprising five typical green houses with Macanese architectural characteristics, is considered one of the cultural relics and heritage of the territory. This dignified row of dwellings symbolise the enduring regional and local history of the islands of Taipa and Coloane; this exhibition shows photos and real objects and serves to underscore the lasting importance to Macau of the Houses of Beach Avenue. The five houses include "Macanese House", "House of the Islands", "House of the Portugal Regions", "Exhibition Gallery" and "House of Reception".

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Closed on Mondays, open on public holidays)
Venue: House of the Islands, The Taipa Houses-Museum, Av. da Praia, Taipa
Admission: MOP$5 (Free on  Tuesdays)
Organizer: Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2882 7103
http://housesmuseum.iacm.gov.mo

Encounter with History - Photographic Commemoration of the Basic Law of the Macau SAR

The photographs in this exhibition range from the first photo taken of Macau by Jules Itier in 1844 to the present day. The exhibition examines the territory through five distinct phases of its history - Macau post-Opium War, Macau during the Republican Era, Macau after the formation of the New China, Macau during its Transitional Period and Macau following her return to China.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Closed on Mondays) 
Admission free 
Venue: Macau Forum Exhibition Hall, Av. de Marciano Baptista 
Organizers: Association of Promotion of the Macau Basic Law, Legal Affairs Bureau, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Education and Youth Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8988 4100, 2882 7882

Museum of Taipa and Coloane History Exhibition

Situated in a green Portuguese-style building of great historic interest in the old Camara Municipal das Ilhas, the museum displays historic village artifacts and religious items. Historians will find a treasure trove in this 2-storey building with its 8 rooms.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Closed on Mondays) 
Admission: MOP$5 (Free on Tuesdays) 
Address: Museum of Taipa and coloane History - Rua Correia da Silva, Taipa 
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2882 5631
www.iacm.gov.mo/cotaimuseum

A Glimpse of the Past: A Collection of Old Macau Photos from MAM

"A Glimpse of the Past: A Collection of Old Macau Photos from MAM" displays 110 photographs taken in various years during the last century, and captures scenic spots, daily life, cultural events, buildings, street views, vehicles, etc.

It is the fervent hope of Macau Museum of Art that by placing these old photographs in a long term exhibition, and making them available for research, that residents and visitors may catch a glimpse of the territory at different points in time, not only for nostalgic reasons but to contemplate Macau’s current and future development against the backdrop of increasing globalisation.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (No admission after 6:30 p.m., closed on Mondays) 
Admission: MOP$5 (Free on Sundays)
Venue: 3rd floor Gallery of Special Exhibitions, Macau Museum of Art, Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE
Organizer: Macau Museum of Art of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 8791 9814
www.artmuseum.gov.mo

Travel Notes of A Museum Explorer

A Tour of Macau Museum

My friend suggested we visit Macau Museum, located dramatically within the walls of the Mount Fortress. We took an escalator to the entrance, where we posed for photos with a traditional pedicab before entering the building. The first floor offered a short and comparative presentation of the way the European and Chinese civilizations developed before "meeting", and we saw an interesting constructional animation of the Ruins of St. Paul's.

The second floor featured the popular arts and traditions which reminded me of my childhood, while not far away the Macanese-house exhibited the furniture, fittings and special snacks found only in Macau.

The third floor presented the Macau of present times. The interestingly-titled "Words of Warning in Times of Prosperity - The Legacy of Zheng Guan-Ying" exhibition runs through to the end of August . . . and leaves the modern visitor with food for thought.

Later on, my friend and I took a stroll in the gardens of the Mount Fortress - once the city's principal military defence structure, and now one of the principal attractions of The Historic Centre of Macau - before finding our way to the quaint, stone-walled coffee shop down the steps, and the views across the ever-changing skyline of the city.

Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (No admission after 5:30 p.m., closed on Mondays)
Admission: MOP$15 (Free on 15th of every month)
Address: Macau Museum Square No. 112
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2835 7911
http://www.icm.gov.mo

Mar to Aug - Free Guided Tour of Macau Churches

Several of the beautiful, distinctive churches of the territory are located within the boundaries of the Historic Centre of Macau and are convenient for visitors to visit. If you want to know more about the many rituals and stories behind the church façades, look out for the free guided tour service provided every Saturday and Sunday from March to August 2008 in St. Augustine's Church, St. Lawrence's Church and St. Joseph's Seminary and Church. The tour service is conducted in Cantonese and Mandarin.

St. Augustine's Church, one of the oldest in Macau, was the first church to hold mass in English. Legend has it that the clergymen had to cover the open roof whenever it rained with sunflower leaves; on windy days, people from afar could see the leaves waving hence the local Chinese called it the Temple of the Dragon's Beard.

Find out more on one of the guided tours . . .

Time: 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Every Sat & Sun)
Admission free (appointments not required)
Venue: St. Augustine's Church, St. Lawrence's Church and St. Joseph's Seminary and Church.
Organizer: Pilgrimage Service of Catholic Lay Association of Macau
Telephone enquiries: (853) 2892 1438
Language: Cantonese & Mandarin

Programme Preview

The Asian Attractions Expo 2008 will be held from July 16 to 18. Participants will come from more than 65 countries to display their products and services in more than 2,500 square metres of exhibit space, promoting theme park facilities, family entertainment products and carnival products.

Several national volleyball teams will fight it out over three days for this leg of the championship of the 2008 FIVB World Grand Prix from July 4 to 6.

The biennial International Youth Dance Festival provides a platform for participants around the world to perform diverse dances from July 4 to 11.

Two music concerts will be held during July. The Macau Band Fair 2008 (July 23, 24, 29 to August 1 & 3) will perform a variety of popular works; while the Japan Music Festival 2008 (July12) will promote the popular music of Japanese singers.

Cultural Affairs Bureau, Macau Cultural Centre programs' 24-Hour Ticketing Hotline: 
Macau (853) 2855 5555, Hong Kong (852) 2380 5083, Mainland China (86) 139 269 11111
Website: http://www.macauticket.com

Photos: Macau Government Tourist Office, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Tung Cheng Yuen Buddhist Society, Pilgrimage Service, Association of Si San Kit I Tong, St. Anthony's Church, A Plus Pr & Advertising Co., Centre for Creative Industries, Old Ladies' House Art Space, Venetian Macau-Resort-Hotel, Art For All, Step Out