城市歷史、文化與傳媒研究中心的「多元文化行動計劃」(MIA) ，於2020年下半年，因應新冠疫情為公眾策劃了一系列的網上跨文化手工/藝工作坊。參加者來自亞、澳、歐、非和美洲多個地方，年齡最大75歲，最小2歲。不論族群和文化背景，大家通過手工/藝的教與學，分享了各地文化習俗的異同，還認識了世界各地的新朋友。
經過多月籌備，在2021年5月，「#衆樂樂：跨文化手工/藝網上展覽」開幕，集合了MIA導師和學員的作品，呈現他們通過手工/藝的交流所獲得的快樂。展覽共有四個「展廳」：「多元·樂」展示分享與應用文化之樂，「靜思·樂」展示手工/藝的心靈互通之樂，「再生·樂」展示對環境的守護不分族裔與形式、都帶來祝福；展覽以「未來·樂」作結，由孩子們展示對文化多元的天真自然的欣賞，為我們指向平等與快樂的未來。
展覽策展人是本中心副主任譚少薇教授，他指出世界各地文化都有自己獨特的歷史和傳統，通過手工/藝可讓我們了解到不同民族的世界觀和美學。而在疫情下，在停學和在家工作的新常態下，親子關係和個人精神健康都需要多元化的支援。跨文化手工/藝網上活動對身、心、靈、社各方面，都有正面的影響。譚教授樂於見到參加者的積極回饋，並希望網上展覽能進一步為公眾帶來跨文化體驗。他提示參觀展覽時，用電腦可達致較佳效果。觀眾可在網站首頁頂部工具欄，點擊「關於展覽」閱讀展覽簡介。接著返回主頁點擊要造訪的展廳，再點擊作者，便可看到該作者的作品。跟著點擊作品圖片，就能看到作品的介紹。歡迎邀請親友一起觀賞，齊來體驗多元文化之樂！
點擊此鏈接參觀展覽： Miavirtualexhibition.com
In the second half of 2020, like many of us in Hong Kong, Multiculturalism in Action Project (MIA) of the Centre for Urban History, Culture and Media, was feeling a bit stuck and restless under the pandemic. So we decided to organize a series of online intercultural handicraft/art workshops for the public. We were overwhelmed that participants came from Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa and the Americas, with ages ranging from 2 to 75. Regardless of ethnic and cultural background, we came together in the teaching and learning of arts/crafts, and enjoyed meeting new friends from around the world.
Then, after months of preparation, the “#HappyTogether: An Intercultural Arts/Crafts Online Exhibition” was opened in May 2021. The exhibition features the works of MIA tutors and participants, all of which demonstrate the joy we shared through arts and crafts. There are 4 “exhibition halls”: Happiness in Diversity, Happiness in Meditation, Happiness in Renewing; and concluding with Happiness in Future Building in which the young ones show us their natural appreciation of cultural diversity and point towards a future of equality and happiness.
Associate Director of CUHCM, Prof. Siumi Maria Tam, was the curator of the exhibition. She points out that every culture has its own history and tradition, and through arts/crafts we can understand the worldview and aesthetics of different ethnic groups in the world.
With school suspension and working from home being the new normal, parent-child relationships and individual mental health require diversified support. Participants of the workshops found that intercultural handicraft/art online activities have had a positive influence on the physical, mental, spiritual and social aspects of their life. Prof. Tam is happy to see that workshop participants found the experience useful and hopes that the online exhibition will further bring this rewarding intercultural experience to the public. She recommends viewing the exhibition on a computer to get a better experience. Visitors may start with clicking "About the Exhibition" on the home page to read the introduction to the exhibition. Then, to enter the exhibition halls, return to the home page and click the section you would like to visit. Once inside, click an author to see their works, then click on the photo of each work to read its caption.
Visit the exhibition with your friends and family and share the joy of multiculturalism! Start your visit to the exhibition here: Miavirtualexhibition.com