Macau | Macau Design Centre to reach out to Chinese cities and lead this year’s Light Festival

James Chu, director of MDC, told MNA that they have been working on setting up offices for over half a year, and more talks with other cities are still ongoing.

MDC is in talks with related departments in Dongguan and Mr. Chu hopes that the branch office in Dongguan will be confirmed this year.

The expansion of the Centre is based upon the idea of integrating the Greater Bay Area initiative, said the MDC director.

Mr. Chu revealed that the second grant from the Cultural Development Fund boosted confidence for MDC to proceed with further growth, while disclosing that they will start recruiting staff for the offices after next Lunar New Year in February.

Established two years ago, MDC took the lead the first time in organising the city’s Light Festival.

With a larger scale and wider coverage this year, the head of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes expects that the number of participants will grow compared to last year’s event.

According to the MGTO head, last year’s Macao Light Festival attracted over 200,000 visitors.

During her speech at the press conference for the Light Festival on Wednesday, Ms. Senna Fernandes said she hopes to see a 50 per cent growth in the number of participants this year.

The event, according to the MGTO head, aims to extend the length of visitors’ stays and boost the economic benefits brought to local businesses, while tapping into the potential of cultural tourism by cultivating the cultural and creative industry in Macau.

Staged from December 3 to 31 this year, the Festival will showcase over 100 local designers’ works in projection mapping, light installations, interactive games and a series of other activities such as a Light Art Exhibition, Mini Concert, Outdoor Movie and Light Dinner.

With this year’s theme ‘AMOR-MACAU’, visitors can enjoy the Festival at the Ruins of St. Paul’s which is the heart of the event. The routes extend towards locations including Senado Square, Anim’Arte Nam Van, Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre, St. Lazarus’ Parish and Camões Garden. The Taipa Houses Museums will also be one of the designated locations.