The George Town Festival (GTF), now in its 13th year, is set to shine a light on the vibrant creative scenes in Malaysia and abroad through more than 80 programmes covering visual arts, theatre, dance, music, film, photography and others.
This time around, the 16-day celebration of the arts will eschew big-scale outdoor events for small- and medium-scale productions – including world premieres of new works – held at various locations in the island state.
Among the highlights are two concerts held at Unesco-designated sites. “The Senses” offers live music by local outfits Buddha Beats, Darmas, and Kacau-Bilau at The Habitat Penang Hill’s Curtis Crest, located amidst the state’s 130-million-year-old rainforest, 800m above sea level.
Meanwhile, “Mozart at the Mansion” is scheduled to take place at Cheong Fatt Tze: The Blue Mansion, where festival-goers can enjoy the best of the classical composer’s operas in the 120-year-old heritage site.
For lovers of traditional art forms, “Teater Tradisional Makyung Dewa Indera Indera Dewa” explores complex themes such as sibling rivalry, royal tradition, and the world of jinn through stylised dance and action; while “Ibu 伊母” combines old-school Teochew puppet theatre performance with modern technology to tell a story inspired by Southeast Asian folklore.
Besides ticketed items, a host of free programmes – which make up 70% of the festival’s lineup – are available, showcasing Penang’s diverse culture and heritage, and comprising live performances, screenings, exhibitions, masterclasses, and more.
Must-sees include “Angin OMbulan”, a contemporary version of Malay traditional healing performances inspired by Main Puteri and Mak Yong; and “Serenity: A Glimpse Through the Traditional Lenses”, a screening and performance that connects traditional art forms with contemporary dance practices.
Then there’s the “G-Short 2022 Finalists Film Screening”, featuring the works of the festival’s short-film finalists selected from 69 countries.
Art enthusiasts can mark their calendars for “Cahaya XR: First Edition”, an immersive exhibition that uses technologies such as virtual, augmented, and mixed reality to reimagine Penang’s traditional stories and heritage.
The festival will further be made merrier with “A Night at Hin”, where visitors keen on a good bargain can enjoy the artisan market with three different themes spread across three weekends. The “Reset” market on Saturday, July 9 features products that promote calmness; “Refine” (July 16) will carry art and books; while “Retro” (July 23) brings back the good times of yesteryear.
In addition to the works of local artists, GTF features collaborations with practitioners from other countries. The “Le Corbusier Maquettes: The Representation of Modern Architecture” exhibition, for instance, displays models of French-Swiss architect Le Corbusier’s iconic buildings.
Meanwhile, in a collaboration with Taipei’s department of cultural affairs, “Isle to Isle” returns for its fourth edition, continuing the excitement of interpreting the exchange of cultures to connect two islands, namely Penang and Taiwan.
Since its inaugural edition in 2010, the George Town Festival has grown into a hallmark event in the northern state. CNN Travel dubbed it “the best of Penang rolled up in one big festival”, while “The New York Times” called it a “festival growing into a major Asian arts event”.
The George Town Festival runs from Saturday, July 9 to Sunday, July 24. For more information, visit the GTF website or Facebook profile.