The 5th GBA Culture and Arts Festival open call: Global artists drawn to vibrant arts bay

The 5th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival has officially launched an open call for performance projects and main visual design submissions, inviting participants from both domestic and overseas.

Around 60 high-quality productions are expected to be selected, including dramas, musicals, operas, and concerts. Approximately 30% of them will consist of international classics, and the submission deadline is June 15.

The GBA boasts a rich cultural heritage, a vibrant cultural market, strong foundations in cultural technology, a well-developed cultural industry system, upgrading policy support, and a favorable business environment. Connecting Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, the region offers fertile ground for global artistic exchange. With these strengths, the GBA has attracted more world-class art projects and artists to explore opportunities, collaborate, and shape a dynamic cultural future together.

Policy and market support for the arts in GBA

Since the first edition of the festival in 2019, cultural and artistic exchanges among Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao have grown increasingly close. The GBA's integrated development has positioned it as a rising platform for attracting international artists and productions.

According to the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province, this year’s festival introduces innovative incentives, including funding rewards for selected productions and venues, aimed at boosting the festival’s appeal to top domestic and global performances. In addition, subsidized tickets will be offered to the public, enabling more residents and fans to enjoy world-class performances right in their communities.

The French musical 'Don Juan' was performed in Guangzhou in April 2025. (Photo: Guangzhou Opera House)

Recently, Guangdong unveiled a major policy package to strengthen the competitiveness and appeal of its cultural industry globally. In terms of enhancing international exchange and cooperation in the performing arts market, the policies encourage eligible regions to provide subsidies for qualified projects according to regulations. Regions with the necessary conditions are also encouraged to actively introduce major international commercial performances and high-quality productions to establish the province as a prime destination for premieres.

In recent years, Guangdong’s performing arts market has experienced rapid growth. In 2024 alone, the province approved over 400,000 commercial performances, generating more than 6.3 billion yuan in revenue. Among these, 410 were large-scale ticketed performances, accounting for over 3.7 billion yuan in income and directly stimulating more than 25 billion yuan in related consumption.

Global artists see opportunity in the GBA

The GBA's vibrant and evolving art atmosphere is drawing praise from international artists who have experienced it firsthand. The supportive environment and global outlook of this region are key factors attracting diverse creative talent.

Bill Aitchison, a British artist and performance maker who just finished his journey in the Bay Area Contemporary Art Biennale in Guangzhou, believes the GBA is forward-looking, dynamic, and youthful. People can feel the pulse of industry and ideas. The international perspective of Hong Kong and Macao makes this region where China meets the world.

Bill Aitchison’s workshop activity in China. (Photo: Bill Aitchison)

“With good funding, we can create works to a better standard and present original pieces,” Bill said.

Joe Longardner, a US musician who lived in Guangzhou for over 10 years, noted, “The art atmosphere in Guangdong has grown so much since I moved to China in 2013. It's not only in Guangzhou, there is now so much art in Shenzhen, Foshan, and Zhuhai.”

He emphasizes that art festivals are great because they allow for organization in a way that artists can promote themselves. It can bring together many different people from various types of art and cultures to the GBA.

Joe Longardner performed at Lingnan Tiandi in Foshan, Guangdong Province. (Photo: Joe Longardner)

“The support is structured in a way that benefits both local artists and those from abroad,” Joe added, mentioning that he will return to Guangdong to perform at events in two weeks.