The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym) will reopen the cultural facilities to the public in an orderly manner from 21 October (Thursday). Various cultural activities including performances, workshops and courses, as well as reading activities will also be launched successively. In strict accordance with the relevant epidemic prevention guidelines, IC will organize various activities much anticipated by the public, including the “hush! Concerts” and the “Tap Siac Craft Market”, scheduled for November, the 3^rd “Encounter in Macao - Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”, scheduled for November and December, and the 24^th Lusofonia Festival, scheduled for December. This year’s “Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” will include the Lusofonia Festival, building Macao as a platform for cultural exchange between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and presenting a vibrant artistic feast for residents and tourists. More information about the activities will be announced in due course.

To safeguard the public’s health, IC has arranged cleaning and disinfection works for all venues before reopening. Crowd control measures will be implemented at all venues, with visitor capacity limited to 50% of the pre-pandemic level. Cultural activities such as the Busking Programme will restart from 22 October (Friday). Registration for “Cultural Guided Tours”, “Get to Know Our World Heritage – Workshops for Families” and reading activities for families will reopen to the public. Various activities, integrated in the “Show and Deep Cultural Tour in Inner Habour and Taipa”, and concerts by the Macao Orchestra and Macao Chinese Orchestra will be resumed successively. Interested parties can register through the IC’s Activities Registration System at www.icm.gov.mo/eform/event. In addition, IC will reopen the “Artistic and Cultural Spaces Release Programme” to the public at the same time. For application procedures and details, please visit the “Booking System for the use of Artistic and Cultural Spaces” at the IC’s website (acs.icm.gov.mo).

The public is advised to co-operate with the crowd control measures and everyone must wear their own masks, undergo body temperature checks, and present their health codes of the day upon entry. IC urges the public to visit the cultural facilities at different times, pay attention to personal and environmental hygiene and maintain social distancing after entering the venues, and co-operate with the SAR Government’s pandemic prevention measures to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

IC will closely monitor the development of the pandemic, follow the relevant guidelines of the Health Bureau and implement appropriate measures in a timely manner, and would like to thank the members of the public for their understanding and co-operation.

For the latest information about the Cultural Affairs Bureau, please visit the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s website at www.icm.gov.mo, “IC Art” page on Facebook and its official WeChat account “IC_Art_Macao”.