MGM’s National Arts Fund Project Culminates in Creative Exhibition at Macau’s Barra District

POLY MGM MUSEUM Hosts Sharing Session to Energize the Advancement of Silk Road Civilization 

[February 5, 2026, Macau]Organized by MGM, the 2025 National Arts Fund-supported project, “Talent Training on the Cultural and Creative Design of Maritime Silk Road”, officially opened its achievement exhibition today (February 5) at Macau’s 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. 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.

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.

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. This ability to fuse ‘traditional heritage’ with ‘modern expression’ is the vital core competency needed to propel the cultural and creative industries from the realm of ‘manufacturing’ to that of ‘creation’. 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, said, “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.”

Following 60 days of intensive training and months of further refinement, the creative works of 30 participants are presented in this exhibition. Structured around six thematic chapters, the exhibition systematically showcases diverse explorations of the Maritime Silk Road through cultural interpretation, design translation, and contemporary artistic expression.

Open to 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.

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.

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.

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Selected Participant Reflections from the Achievement Exhibition of the “Talent Training on the Cultural and Creative Design of Maritime Silk Road”

Macau student representative Sanchia Lau

“This program was a cultural root-seeking journey that went far beyond the traditional classroom. From the morning light at the Forbidden City in Beijing to our rediscovery of A-Ma Temple in Macau, we re-examined the transmission of Maritime Silk Road civilization with an open and reflective mindset. Macau’s unique coexistence of Chinese and Western cultures, past and present, inspires me to take Macau as a pivot in carrying forward the mission of cultural outreach, translating traditional symbols into a language shared by the world.”

Mainland student representative Wang Yuding

“The program broke away from conventional teaching models and instead brought learning into cities themselves. Drawing on local history and culture in key Maritime Silk Road nodes such as Macau, we inspired one another and rethought contemporary expressions of Silk Road culture. This exhibition provides not only a platform for presentation, but also opportunities for industry engagement and future collaboration.”

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About MGM

MGM is an abbreviation for MGM China Holdings Limited (HKEx: 2282) and is a leading developer, owner and operator of gaming and lodging resorts in Greater China. We are the holding company of MGM Grand Paradise, SA which holds one of the six gaming concessions to run casino games in Macau. MGM Grand Paradise, SA owns and operates MGM MACAU, the award-winning premium integrated resort located on the Macau Peninsula and MGM COTAI, a contemporary luxury integrated resort in Cotai.

MGM MACAU is a Forbes Five-Star luxury integrated resort inspired by the arts with every element of the resort infused with creativity and style. MGM MACAU has approximately 600 guest rooms and suites and boasts a number of distinguishing features, including the architecturally stunning European-inspired Grande Praça, housed under a soaring glass ceiling. The POLY MGM MUSEUM spanning almost 2,000 square meters, is constructed in accordance with Chinese national standards for the exhibition of Grade-One cultural relics. MGM MACAU’s world class facilities also include conference and event facilities, spa, and seven signature restaurants and bars to fulfill any gastronomic craving. Our property is conveniently located on the Macau Peninsula and is directly connected to the luxury retail shopping complex, One Central.

Designed as the “jewelry box” of Cotai, MGM COTAI offers approximately 1,400 hotel rooms and suites, meeting space, high end spa, retail offerings, food and beverage outlets as well as the first international Mansion at MGM for the ultimate luxury experience. MGM has joined hands with renowned Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou to set up the “Macau 2049” residency in MGM Theater. The Spectacle at MGM COTAI becomes the record holder of the largest free-span gridshell glazed roof (self-supporting) on January 19, 2019, making it the first architectural and structural GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for Macau, China. MGM COTAI is being developed to drive greater product diversification and bring more advanced and innovative forms of entertainment to Macau as it grows as a global tourist destination. MGM COTAI is the only mega complex and hotel in Macau to gain three-star certification in both Green Building Design and Operation Label, as well as the first hotel in the Greater Bay Area and second in Greater China to receive the certifications.

MGM China is majority owned by MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) one of the world's leading global hospitality companies, operating a portfolio of destination resort brands including Bellagio, ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and Park MGM. For more information about MGM Resorts International, visit the Company's website at www.mgmresorts.com.

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Juliana Kung                                   

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MGM  

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Email: julianakung@mgm.mo

Karen Lam

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MGM

Tel: (853) 8806 3421

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