GBA Culture and Arts Festival kicks off

The fifth Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Culture and Arts Festival opened Tuesday and will run through Oct. 16 across 11 cities of the region, bringing a month of performances, exhibitions and public programs designed to deepen cultural ties and raise the GBA’s profile as an international cultural hub.

The opening concert of the fifth GBA Culture and Arts Festival at Guangzhou Opera House on Tuesday. China News Service

The monthlong festival, with the theme of “Vibrant Bay Area, Arts Connectivity,” aims to solidify the GBA’s status as a leading center for cultural exchange.

A major highlight is the “Arts in the GBA” performance series, which will present 35 acclaimed productions, totaling 104 shows. The program blends local heritage with global artistry, featuring performances such as the dance drama “Wing Chun,” which incorporates intangible cultural heritage elements. The production recently gained international recognition following performances in Moscow and at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit. The Cantonese opera “Red Turban” will continue to attract global audiences, after recent shows in Singapore celebrating the 35th anniversary of China-Singapore diplomatic relations.

A scene from “Wing Chun.”File photo

The festival also underscores the growing collaborative spirit among creative talents within the Bay Area. Young artists from across the region, including Hong Kong composer Elliot Ho Yat Leung, have collaborated on original symphonic works. Cross-border projects like the music-dance theater’s “Pulse · Dance” further demonstrate the deepening artistic cooperation within the GBA.

International participation has expanded significantly, with 10 productions making their way to the GBA. Audiences can experience world-renowned classics such as the Vakhtangov State Academic Theater of Russia’s “Eugene Onegin” and “Uncle Vanya,” Matthew Bourne’s “Swan Lake,” the original French musical “Molière,” and the Greek National Opera’s production of “La Traviata,” many of which are hosting their Chinese premieres.

Committed to public engagement, the festival will offer more than 100 performances, 19 art exhibitions, and over 150 public benefit events. A key initiative is the widespread access to culture, with each production offering no fewer than 50 free tickets for designated groups and at least 10% of all paid tickets available at significant discounts, with some prices starting as low as 30 yuan (US$4.13). In certain cases, discounted tickets will exceed 50% of available seats.

Running concurrently is the 16th China (Guangzhou) International Performing Arts Fair (CIPAF) from Sept. 25 to 28. The fair will gather nearly 300 performing arts organizations from 20 countries and regions. It will serve as a major marketplace for the industry, facilitating the signing of creation and touring agreements for stage productions such as “Wong Fei Hung” and “Odes to Heroes.”