The Macau Museum of Art, a new local cultural facility situated in the Cultural Center of Macau in the Outer Harbour area, was inaugurated on 19 March 1999. The Museum, with a total area of 10192 square meters, of which about 4,000 square metres are exhibition areas, is the only art museum in Macau.
Macao is a renowned historical city having both Asian and Western characteristics. As an art Museum, display here is such taste with the speciality of traditional oriental culture combined with the artistic flavour of the Western civilization. Visitors will feel the unique atmosphere of art and culture here through exhibitions. This small but interesting museum displays historical paintings, Chinese calligraphy, pottery, and works by contemporary local artists. Particularly fascinating are paintings by Western artists such as British painter George Chinnery and others, who painted scenes, people, and customs of Macau and Guangdong, including depictions of the port town as it looked long ago. Their works were often copied and then sold to visiting foreigners as souvenirs. Also impressive is the collection of Shiwan ceramic figurines.
The Macau Museum of Art is housed in a 5-storey building, in which there are 5 exhibition galleries of different sizes. The 4th floor is a gallery for Chinese calligraphy; paintings and pottery while the 2nd and 3rd floors are exhibition galleries of articles and works of special themes. The 3rd floor is also a history gallery where export-oriented Western paintings will be on display. The 1st floor is a lecture hall that can seat more than one hundred people. Frequently there are seminars for exhibitions, a week of movies, lectures on art and archaeological studies, etc. The museum shop located on the 1st floor sells publications from the museum, books and gifts of Macao speciality. There is a multimedia library on the ground floor which has books and talking books related to the cultural relics and art here. Furthermore, it provides free Internet service for readers. The library has an audiovisual room which allows the public to enjoy nearly five hundred classical movies of China and abroad, free of charge. In addition to that, many different artistic activities and art classes for children are held frequently in the studio on the ground floor in order to meet the needs of those who are interested in these subjects.
The museum change its showcase display from time to time. And there are also temporary exhibitions. Permanent or temporary, the displays always highlight the eclectic mix of east meets west that is symbolic of Macau's history and culture.