Balancing Public Fund Monitoring with Industrial Success

08 2016 | Issue 16
Text/Yuki Ieong, Jason Leong and Lei Ka Io

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Set up only a year ago, the Macao Design Centre has built up considerable reputation within the sector. At the outset, there were 49 applicants competing for the 12 studios, before the venue was expanded to offer 17 studios. However it is still with a long waiting list, since it has the appeal of a three-year renewable lease. Its executive director, Dirco Fong, said that the Design Centre has a rather strict policy of admittance, as each application is evaluated carefully in light of its background and capabilities, so that the Centre can invite those designers of potential and passion to join.

 

Helping Local Designers to Go Abroad

 

As a designer himself, Fong opined that the most difficult period for a creative enterprise is to find its own space with little capital. In this respect, the Design Centre’s clear positioning can help the tenants seek opportunities.

 

“Nowadays, the gaming enterprises have increasingly looked for homegrown products. We are also keen to find local product designers who can produce work that complement the brand image of these gaming enterprises,” said Fong. According to Fong, it makes more sense for designers to actively seek out opportunities rather than to wait for the right clients.

 

Last year, the Design Centre organised designers for participating in the Light Festival. Although they did not win the contest, they were invited to Taichung with another team to take part in the Light Festival there for a consecutive period of two years. Fong revealed that they are also in discussion with Tianjin Light Festival to explore opportunities. This shows that the Design Centre is keen to promote Macao’s designers on an international stage. “As each region has its own unique characteristics, they can complement each other and drive synergies.”

 

Slow Approvals Impede Progress

 

The Centre features a café with a black and grey overtone and a shop sign “Macau Design Centre” made with scrap-metal. On each floor, the corridor is painted in white and offers freedom for each tenant to design his own shopfront. Fong admitted that, due to the limited budget, the building has only undergone refurbishment works, retaining much of its original appearance. “Each studio’s area is confined by the building structure, and therefore not much change has been made, so that the venue can be utilised fully with the given resources.”

 

The Centre has been awarded MOP $7 million funding via the Cultural Industries Fund for its five-year plan. Nevertheless, its operational expenses and reallocation of resources above a certain limit would require government approval. Fong felt that the careful monitoring of such funding is essential, although the slow approval process falls short of meeting the needs of a growing enterprise.

 

“For example, if we were to hold a talk, we will have to apply to the government for the use of this expense, and will have to wait for a long time for the approval. This means there is not enough time to invite an overseas speaker even if the funding is approved subsequently. Of course, it will impact on the activity itself. Luckily, the government department is aware of this issue and is hoping to improve it.”

 

Clientele Thinking as Priority

 

Fong pointed out that, in recent years, the government has put in considerable efforts to encourage youths to set up their own businesses. Moreover, there is a real market demand for cultural and creative businesses. He believed that more enterprises or organisations will join the sector in due course.

 

“The cultural element will always be only part of the whole business rather than the core. There are so many design companies in Macao. We have to open up the competition to select the best designers to join us.” Fong said that the clientele’s thinking is far more important than the infrastructure or venue space, and that currently the real issue faced by the sector is the lack of respect for such professionalism.

 

“Nowadays, the government tender for projects is evaluated based on the lowest-bid-wins principle. This certainly poses serious restrictions on the creative industry itself. On one hand, they are keen to provide space and resources to support entrepreneurs. On the other hand, they will suppress your opportunities once you are in the market. This is a confusing situation.”