A general air of festivity hangs in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) as the annual Macao City Fringe Festival returns for its 20th edition under the theme of "Everyone is an Artist."

The event, organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) of the SAR government, began on Wednesday. It aims to turn arts into a daily routine through different means of expression using the concept of "all around the city, our stages, our patrons, our artists." 

This year's festival seeks to engage more audiences and enrich their artistic experience through 18 artistic programs and 16 creative activities across the city, offering a platform for both artists and audiences to unleash their creativity.

Local creators and residents can find urban arts in their daily lives through art-related festivities while tourists get opportunities to engage with the cultural pulse of the city.

One of the main exhibitions and highlights of this year's event, "Art Exhibition for All" opened on the opening day. 

The exhibition features an unconventional program that invites the public to participate in artistic creation and showcase their works at the Flower City Park in downtown Macao.

The first week will also observe diverse programs, such as the series "Crème de la Fringe: On Site" which uses body language as the domain, allowing audiences to appreciate contemporary dance art from city spaces to a theater, as well as the series "Crème de la Fringe: Todos Fest!" which features performances presented by local dancers, elderly people and people with physical and mental disabilities.

The organizers are launching more outreach activities amid the coronavirus pandemic, including an online webinar "Connect with the Festivals' Representatives," at which three renowned foreign fringe festival curators and an art review magazine founder will be invited to share their curating and creating experiences.

According to the IC, anti-coronavirus measures are in place, including controls on visitor flows and prevention of big gatherings. All participants are required to wear face masks, have body temperature checks and show their "Macao Health Codes" to enter in the venues.

Launched in 1999, the annual festival has grown to be one of the biggest cultural and art events in Macao. This year's event ends on January 31.

(Cover: Poster for the 20th Macao City Fringe Festival. /IC)