Orient Foundation celebrates 35th anniversary in Macau

Fado and bossa nova filled the Casa Garden in Macau on Saturday, marking the Orient Foundation’s 35th anniversary, which was established in the city on the same day in 1988.

The outgoing head of the Foundation’s delegation in the SAR, Ana Paula Cleto, emphasized that the past thirty-five years were “extremely important for the cultural, educational, philanthropic and social space” in the territory.

“The presence of the Foundation has been important since that moment and has continued to be, as it was born here and has always been here,” said Cleto, recalling that the institution is a founding partner of the Portuguese Institute of the Orient (IPOR), created in 1989, to promote the Portuguese language and culture, where it maintains “a very strong presence.”

After 13 years, Cleto has voluntarily stepped down from her position, as she wants to dedicate herself to personal and family projects. She stated that she is “leaving happy for that and for what I did.”

With the appointment of Catarina Cottinelli, who will take up the post next month, the Orient Foundation aims to give continuity to its plan of cultural, educational, and social activities, and the promotion of the Portuguese language and culture in Macau, through its initiatives and partnerships with local entities or granting subsidies, according to a statement from the institution.

The Orient Foundation, headquartered in Lisbon, also has offices in Goa, India, and Timor-Leste. It aims to continue to value and promote the historical and cultural relationship between Portugal and the East through cultural, educational, artistic, scientific, social, and philanthropic actions.

In Macau, the Orient Foundation is located in Casa Garden, a historical landmark building that was acquired from the Portuguese administration in the late 1980s. The building, which dates back to the second half of the 18th century, is one of the most significant examples of Macanese architectural heritage with European roots. It was initially owned by a Portuguese aristocratic family and was later leased to the British East India Company. It has served as a support base for the stay in Macau of embassies to the imperial court and as headquarters for various bodies of the city’s administration.

The delegation comprises two galleries for temporary exhibitions and an auditorium for conferences, music, cinema, or theatre shows.