Authorities from the official Cultural Institute, one sponsor of the event, told the press Tuesday that the 14 programs from China's inland, Hong Kong, Macao and abroad, combined with an exciting week of film and video cycles and two major art exhibitions, will provide something to suit different tastes.

The audience will be presented with ballet, Kun opera, acrobatics, music, puppetry, contemporary drama, Cantonese opera, comedy and traditional Gypsy dancing over the festival.

This year's festival will be co-sponsored by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau and run for seven days longer than previously.

The Macao Arts Festival and Macao International Music Festival are the two major annual cultural events for this special administrative region of China, attracting the attention of both local residents and overseas visitors.

(Xinhua News Agency January 22, 2003)