But if Macau is no longer a place where baccarat is king and sic bo dice tumble endlessly across the baize, then what is it? It’s now “Cultural Macau”, or so policymakers would have you believe. They may have a point.
The impressive new Poly MGM Museum exemplifies what the city is capable of, but beyond such grand openings, Macau’s calendar of visual arts events has embraced everything from contemporary art from the Portuguese-speaking world, to festivals of graffiti and open-call salons. To support the idea of “Cultural Macau”, casino operators – or “concessionaires” as they’re euphemistically called – have endowed generous art prizes and routinely strew the city with pop art installations that are either vibrant or hideous, depending on your point of view. But they are well intentioned.
Strides have been made in the performing arts, too. In 2023, Macau presented more than 2,000 concerts. Big productions at the casinos drew an audience of a million people and generated MOP1.1 billion (HK$1.06 billion) in ticket sales.
Macau’s recent designation as a Culture City of East Asia for 2025 is the icing sugar on the pastel de nata of the city’s cultural aspirations. It isn’t the grandest accolade – and Macau is sharing the honour with three other municipalities – but this is the first time a Chinese city outside the mainland has been given the designation. Through it, tiny Macau is putting the world on notice that it intends to punch above its cultural weight. After all, even a city built on chance can gamble on good taste.
Here are some don’t-miss art events coming up on the other side of the delta.
New Perspectives: Modern and Contemporary Works from the Macao Museum of Art (until May 25)
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