A public institution which engages in drafting and implementing Macao’s cultural policy and academic research. Apart from this, the Cultural Affairs Bureau Macao promotes Sino-Portuguese cultural interchange and Portuguese language and culture. The Bureau also administers the Museum of Macao and organises the Macao Arts Festival. The site gives a detailed account of its general and current activities.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau (former Cultural Institute of Macao) was founded as a public institution on 4 September 1982 under the terms of Decree-Law no. 43/82/M. Its aim was to assist in drafting and implementing the Territory's policies on culture and academic research by organising activities relating to Sino-Portuguese cultural interchange and by disseminating and stimulating an interest in Portuguese language and culture in this part of the world.

In 1989 its Organic Statute underwent an extensive review to bring it into line with an evolving reality, with the alterations enshrined in Decree-Law no. 63/89/M of 25 September and 20/90/M of 14 May.

The Institute continued to maintain its triple role producing draft legislation, providing training in the various arts and promoting cultural events.

Two separate departments were added, the Conservatory and the Academy of Visual Arts (which in 1993 transferred to become part of the Macao Polytechnic Institute) in addition to the Historical Archives and Central Library (previously called the National Library of Macao).