Recently, in a Year 2 Recreation and Leisure Management class of the Bachelor of Science in Tourism Event Management programme (Chinese medium) at the Macao University of Tourism, the course lecturer invited Ms. Debbie Tai (Tai Pek Kuan), a creative practitioner of Zero Distance Cooperative, Macao Theatre Culture Institute, Spiranza Arts Production Company Limited, and Springfruit Cultural Activities Planning Co., Ltd. to share with the students her recent extensive experiences coordinating and planning various leisure and recreation projects
Through a wealth of practical case studies – ranging from community events like the Lai Chi Vun Shipyards Chinese New Year Market Ice Rink, the family-friendly summer water-play market "Mr. Bubbles Summer Splash Bazaar", the Coloane Coffee Festival, and the Halloween cultural markets, to artistic initiatives such as the "Contemplations in Dance & Music | Lyre x Body Flow Workshop", the "Awareness Through Movement™️ @ Macao Museum of Art" workshop, and the "Caregivers" Art Project series, Ms Tai used these vivid examples to profoundly illustrate how logical thinking and creativity complement each other and go hand in hand during the event planning and coordination process.
Through Ms Tai's sharing of her years of hands-on experience, students truly realized that organizing events requires the adept use of imagination and creativity to ingeniously integrate diverse elements such as art, culture, and sports, so as to perfectly design, package, and execute events of all scales. What was even more touching was the deep care for the Macao community and the passion for service that Ms. Tai revealed during her sharing. She specifically showcased the "Caregivers" picture book and music album, as well as the health-preserving coffee bags, concretely explaining how events and peripheral products can guide participants to rethink the two-way meaning of "being cared for" and "caring for others". To her, an event is never just pure entertainment; it is an action to awaken mutual care and co-create social connections.
