MGM officially opened the achievement exhibition for the 2025 National Arts Fund–supported “Talent Training on the Cultural and Creative Design of the Maritime Silk Road” project in the Barra District.
The year-long program was anchored at the POLY MGM MUSEUM as its academic training base and collaborated with the faculty team from the Palace Museum and Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology (BIFT), while extending its activities across five key cities along the Maritime Silk Road. Through a systematic training model integrating “cultural theory, field studies, and design practice”, the program has injected new momentum into the cultivation of cultural and creative talent.
Open to the public until March 8, the exhibition features 30 original works spanning cultural and creative products, fashion design, painting, sculpture, and multimedia installations. These works demonstrate the creative transformation from tradition to contemporaneity, while injecting renewed artistic vitality into the historically rich Barra District.
More than a comprehensive presentation of the program’s outcome, the exhibition also represents a vivid demonstration of Macau’s strategic role as a base for “The coexistence of diverse cultures centered by Chinese culture as the mainstream”, actively aligning with and contributing to the national cultural development strategy.
Ms. Pansy Ho, Chairperson and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited, said, “Anchored on the platform of Macau, participants have embraced the spirit of the Maritime Silk Road, translating history and culture into works of contemporary aesthetic value and cultural confidence. As a driving force behind the program, MGM will continue to leverage Macau as a bridge to promote Chinese culture — not merely as an enchanting “view from the East”, but as a lifestyle and aesthetic choice that genuinely enters the hearts, allowing Chinese civilization to radiate new brilliance in our modern age.”
Mr. Jia Ronglin, Deputy of BIFT, added, “Macau exemplifies the encounter and coexistence of Eastern and Western civilizations. Building on its role as a cultural crossroads, this program deepens mutual understanding along the Maritime Silk Road, advances design innovation and talent cultivation, and revitalizes ancient wisdom and aesthetics in a contemporary context. We hope participants will carry culture beyond borders and, on a broader global stage, contribute to enhancing the communication and influence of Chinese civilization.”
To further promote the collaboration between creativity and industry, a cross-sector exchange session was held on the opening day, bringing together professionals from cultural and creative, design, tourism, branding, and related fields to face-to-face discussions with the participants. Discussions explored pathways for commercialization, branding, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, fostering an organic linkage across the “creativity–design–industry” chain.
Officiating guests of the opening ceremony included: Bai Bing, the Deputy Director General of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; Leong Wai Man, Director of the Cultural Affairs Bureau and President of Administrative Committee of the Cultural Development Fund; Jia Ronglin, Deputy of BIFT; Fong Fong Tan, Director of the Livelihood Affairs Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin; Wu Zhiliang, President of the Federation of Associations of Cultural Sectors of Macau; Pansy Ho, Chairperson and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited; along with mentor representatives and leaders from Macau’s academic and creative industries sectors.
Deepening Academic Insights: POLY MGM MUSEUM upholds its cultural mission
As a significant extension of the project, a sharing session was held in the afternoon at the POLY MGM MUSEUM. Serving as a vital platform for Silk Road cultural exchange, the museum is committed to fostering dialogue among ancient history and culture, contemporary artistic creativity, and diverse voices from East and West, past and present.
The sharing session featured Lou Jie, Dunhuang Academy Researcher, and Chu Yan, BIFT Professor as keynote speakers. Engaging with the audience in the immersive atmosphere of the museum, they conducted in-depth discussions on topics including the interactions between the overland and maritime Silk Roads, as well as the contemporary transformation of Silk Road aesthetics. The sharing session not only highlighted the distinctive depth of an integrated exhibition and lecture model but also embodied a spirit of mutual integration and co-creation, enhancing the overall impact of the event.
Lou Jie traced the cultural ‘relay’ between Dunhuang and Macau within China’s broader landscape of external cultural exchange. She highlighted that Macau has played a pivotal role in bridging the Silk Road related art and cultural spectrum of ancient and modern times for both the East and the West. Drawing on the exhibit highlights currently on display in the annual exhibition “Silk Roads Beyond Borders” at the POLY MGM MUSEUM, Chu Yan illustrated how Silk Road aesthetics evolved through exchange, integration, and innovative transformation, particularly in the realms of fashion designs.
She emphasized that Silk Road aesthetics has never been a one-way transmission, but rather a dynamic process of continuous interaction and mutual shaping. She encouraged participants to uncover the universal values embedded in traditional culture, enabling Oriental aesthetics to serve as a wellspring of innovation that informs global fashion discourse.
The sharing session brought together internationally renowned experts and scholars from diverse disciplines, who engaged in in-depth exchanges with participants on contemporary interpretations of Silk Road culture, design methodologies, and pathways for cultural and creative transformation. These dialogues further strengthened the project’s academic rigor and interdisciplinary scope, while reinforcing the POLY MGM MUSEUM’s positioning as both a research base and a premier platform for Silk Road cultural research and exhibition.
Admission for the achievement exhibition is free, with interactive extension activities available on site, inviting audiences to experience the dynamic convergence of art, culture, and creativity.
