20 Jul Taipa Village Cultural Association Exclusively Presents “Taipa Village Dream with Love Campaign”
Taipa Village Cultural Association takes great pleasure in presenting the Dream with Love Campaign, with the goal of supporting the local underprivileged and disabled community by raising social awareness. The campaign is co-organised with the British Council and the Macao Digital Photography Association, sponsored by the Macao Foundation, and supported by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R Government.
The Dream with Love campaign consists of a series of related art events and activities set against the rich cultural backdrop of Taipa Village, including the renowned 11 Million Reasons exhibition, conceptualized by People Dancing and presented by the British Council, echoed by a local photography series consisting of “The Harmony Collection” and “The Dream Collection”, which reveal the beauty and authenticity of disability art. The campaign is united around the keynote of “Art in Unity” and special performance sessions to spread the message: “One Unity, Embrace Diversity”.
‘We are excited to introduce the Dream with Love Campaign to extend our care and dedication to the disabled community in Macau by joining hands with a number of influential community service centres, industry partners, production partners and media partners.’ says Joao O, President of the Executive Board, Taipa Village Cultural Association. ‘There are currently over 20,000 disabled people in the local community who require ultimate care and attention. Being a socially responsible association in the local community, we have the responsibility to raise a positive profile for the disabled community, educate the local community of their immense possibilities, remove the barriers and promote one unity to the local community.’
11 Million Reasons Photography Exhibition
11 Million Reasons Exhibition commissioned by People Dancing, photography Sean Goldthorpe
The Black Swan
The British Council, in partnership with Taipa Village Cultural Association, presents 11 Million Reasons at the Exhibitions Gallery of the Taipa Houses-Museum as part of the collective photography exhibition of the Dream with Love Campaign. Inspired by iconic dance moments from classic films, 11 Million Reasons was conceptualised by People Dancing and was created by photographer Sean Goldthorpe through 20 powerful, emotive and humourous images.
The exhibition offers a different perspective on disability and dance. It demonstrates how photography, as a resource and inspiration to deaf and disabled people, can reach out to audiences who would not normally have access to disability arts. This heart-warming exhibition brings the visual and performing arts together into dialogue and helps to create greater awareness towards social inclusion.
‘At the British Council we believe that art connects us. Our programmes find creative ways of connecting with each other to maintain relationships and support the optimism and imagination of people worldwide to explore more positive futures.’ says Chris Rawlings, Director of the British Council, Hong Kong. ‘Taipa Village Dream with Love is a wonderful campaign that integrates art, people and community. It is a perfect complement to our values. We are really delighted to partner with Taipa Village Cultural Association to present the 11 Million Reasons exhibition in Macau. We passionately believe in the value and power of inclusion and I hope that the exhibition can help raising the awareness of social inclusion and diversity, as well as the profile of the deaf and disabled community in Macau and beyond.’
‘Following the Asian premiere of 11 Million Reasons exhibition in Hong Kong last year, we are excited that the exhibition is making its debut in Macau, which I hope will be seen by more audiences in Asia,’ says Louise Wildish, Producer, People Dancing. ‘The exhibition was conceptualised in the UK in 2014, to change perceptions regarding dance and disabled people. This fine collection of high quality, challenging images by photographer Sean Goldthorpe has gained exciting momentum and has now been seen in many countries all over the world, something we could not have envisaged. We have been overwhelmed and are hugely grateful to the British Council for its continuous support and effort in initiating a legacy for the work In Asia. We hope that communities in Macau will find the work stimulating and inspiring.’
The Harmony Collection Photography Exhibition
The Harmony Collection consists of 10 joyful, blissful and touching images captured over two weekends of Easter egg painting and treasure hunt events organised by Taipa Village Cultural Association, and supported by Taipa Village Art Space, Macau social community organisations, and designated merchants in Taipa Village. The Macao Digital Photography Association is honoured to play a role as a producer of this photo series, capturing multiple emotive and bonding images that record the care and attention shown by the volunteers who provided guidance on egg painting to kids and teenagers with disabilities. Other harmonious scenes are also depicted to reflect the team spirit among the children, parents and merchants in the neighbourhood during the egg hunt games.
The Dream Collection Photography Exhibition
‘We are very honoured to collaborate with Taipa Village Cultural Association for creating the Harmony Collection and the Dream Collection to add appeal to the photography exhibition in the Dream with Love Campaign, as well as being given the opportunity to share the value of digital photography with the social inclusion of the community to unveil their talents and capabilities.” says Yen Kuacfu, President Board of Directors, Macao Digital Photography Association. “By inspiring the disabled with a keen eye for shooting, as well as the hands-on skill of photo composition, the use of lights and various photography techniques, we have opened their hearts and minds, enabling them to connect with each other to demonstrate a vibrant and bonded community.’
The Dream Collection consists of another 10 inspiring images shot by members of the Macau Deaf Association under the theoretical and technical guidance of the Macao Digital Photography Association during a two-week photography course. The moving photos were captured around the theme of “The World in My Eye”, allowing the disabled to experience the cultural charms of Taipa Village and share their perceptions of the neighbourhood through the camera. This photo series also aims to deliver the positive message to the general public that physical constraints do not affect personal ability.
Photography Exhibition General Information
Date: 27th July to 31st August 2017
Time: 10:00am – 7:00pm
Venue: Taipa Houses-Museum – Exhibitions Gallery
Admission: Free
“Art in Unity” Keynote and Local Inclusion Group Performance
In addition to the collective photography exhibition, Taipa Village Cultural Association will present an inspiring one-day “Art in Unity” keynote and performance session to highlight the message of “one unity” and “fair opportunity” through a series of real-life sharing experiences with a number of community centres and individuals, including the Macau Autism Association, the Macau Deaf Association, the Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong, as well as visually-impaired Ivy Kok and local Macau singer Romeu Choi Assis.
All speakers will provide comprehensive talks on topics dedicated to the disabled, with solutions shared to tackle the issues encountered in disabled people’s daily lives and the lives of those around them. This aims to encourage the local community to foster positive attitudes and banish unconscious biases against the disabled, and to educate the community about their immense potential.
“Art in Unity” General Information
Date: 5th August 2017 (Saturday)
Time: 2:00pm – 6:00pm
Venue: Carmo Hall, Taipa, Macau
Programme: Keynote and local performance
Admission: Free
As a socially responsible organisation, Taipa Village Cultural Association is committed to providing sustained support to the local community through art and creative initiatives, cultural and heritage preservation, social contributions and a diverse range of educational programmes to allow future generations to enjoy the unique experience of the authentic Macau. The Dream with Love Campaign serves as a crucial platform to connect Taipa Village Cultural Association with diverse social and cultural organizations locally and internationally to achieving the shared goal of “One Unity, Embrace Diversity”, so as to foster and preserve Macau’s place as a distinctive community that draws global awareness and attention.
Petrie PR is a dynamic boutique Asia based PR agency providing specialist communications strategy for the luxury lifestyle, travel, property, design and spa sectors.
Regionally and internationally connected, our reach spans all the most influential media in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Indonesia as well as emerging markets including Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand.
Find out more about us.