Uniqueness and relevance are some of the major considerations Macau gaming operator MGM China Holdings looks into when curating its art and cultural programs, said Cristina Kuok, senior vice president of art and culture at MGM, on Wednesday (today).
“Art and culture have become our brand DNA,” she stressed. “We’re now known—and I’m proud to say—MGM is the pioneer in organising a lot of art and cultural programmes.”
She made the remarks at a panel about the art boom in the region at ArtBiz Asia, part of the conference programme of the Global Gaming Expo Asia (G2E Asia) 2024 and the Asian IR Expo. Both shows are taking place from Tuesday to Thursday (June 4-6) at the Venetian Macao.
Earlier this year, MGM announced the residency show MGM 2049, which is a collaboration with world-renowned Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou. The show is set to debut at the MGM Theater in December.
The operator also presented the first-ever solo Macau exhibition of internationally renowned Chinese contemporary artist Ren Zhe last month, titled “MGM X Ren Zhe – ‘Legends of Chivalry’ Art Exhibition”.
These efforts align with the Macau government’s push for the gaming operators to develop more non-gaming offerings in the city to attract tourists.
“I think the uniqueness, the edge, and also the relevance are very important to put into the exhibitions,” MGM’s Kuok said on Wednesday, addressing some of the operator’s considerations for curating new art and cultural programmes.
“I think uniqueness, edge, and relevance are very important to put into the exhibitions,” said MGM’s Kuok on Wednesday, addressing the operator’s approach of curating art and cultural programmes.
Highlighting the unique blend of Chinese and Western cultures as a defining aspect of Macau’s identity, she stated, “Every time we do an exhibition, we want to inject a little bit of that uniqueness and the relevance.”
“We want tourists or locals to come to our hotels, not just for the food, beverage, and accommodation, but actually have a bit of the leisure entertainment that they can take away with them,” she added.
Another panellist, Arthur de Villepin, chairman of Villepin Group, discussed on Wednesday a “shift in mentality” in the art and cultural scenes in the West following the Covid era. This gives rise to the potential for more diverse types of art and cultural activities emerging on the other side of the world.
“Museums used to be conservative with their collections, but thanks to Covid, they now need other sources of revenue… which justifies the need to bring exhibitions abroad,” explained Villepin, who is based in Hong Kong and operates businesses promoting art and fine culture in the region.
