The Cultural Economy Development Agency (CENDANA) and Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) will be collaborating to provide opportunities for Malaysian artists and practitioners to tap into their respective programmes, facilities and networks to grow the exports of the Malaysian arts and culture sector.
The collaboration will among others, facilitate greater access for the local arts and culture community to CENDANA's newly announced Mobility Funding Programme as well as MATRADE's export promotion funding programmes such as Market Development Grant (MDG) and Services Export Fund (SEF) if they qualify according to the set criterias.
The Mobility Funding Programme provides support to local artists to present high-quality works that express and enrich Malaysia's artistic diversity, as well as increase arts appreciation and participation in Malaysia or aboard. It also supports local artists to participate in international festivals, exhibitions, trade fairs, biennales, conferences amongst others in addition to supporting our artists to nurture relationships with a view of developing new markets and audiences for their work.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of MATRADE, Ir. Dr. Mohd Shahreen Zainooreen Madros, the national trade promotion agency has always supported the development of the local arts industry and promotion of Malaysian art expression internationally through its global network.
In the past recent years, MATRADE has actively involved in promoting Malaysia arts in major cities of London, Melbourne, Shanghai and Miami. MATRADE has 46 offices worldwide. For the past 5 years, Malaysia has exported RM14.6 million worth of visual arts such as paintings, drawings & sculpture and these arts were exported mainly to Switzerland, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, USA and UAE.
"Together with CENDANA, our facilitation can be a catalyst for local companies to export and strengthen their footprint overseas," he added. Some of the areas where MATRADE can assist include identifying industry opportunities as well as provide advisory services to the Malaysian companies intending to export their products or services.
During the joint press conference, Izan Satrina Dato Mohd Sallehuddin, Founding CEO fo CENDANA said "Malaysia is a country that has an abundance of great art and beautiful stories to share with the world. However, many artists may not have the necessary tools to respond to opportunities extended to them. So, today is a great step forward where not only do we as CENDANA play a role in enabling the artists, but we are able to Synergise these efforts with government agencies like MATRADE to benefit a wider arts and culture community. The Mobility Funding Programme looks at small to mid-scale touring work from performing arts, visual arts and independent music, focusing on local and international platforms that improve access to high-quality Malaysian art." Call for applications open on 25 April 2018 via CENDANA's website
YBhg Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah, Secretary General of Ministry of Tourism and Culture graced the joint press conference and acknowledge the returning 7 member Malaysian delegation that travelled to the Australian Performing Arts market at Brisbane, Australia in February 2018. YBhg Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah also applauded Koe Gaik Cheng, a Malaysian arts administrator that was selected after a competitive call for application to be attached with the Adelaide Festival Centre from July 2018. The Adelaide Festival Centre currently presents the OzzAsia Festival, Australia's premier international arts festival that is focused on Asia.
Through the initiative, the Malaysia delegates ranging from performance artist and playwright director, to contemporary Malaysia gamelan ensemble and a group of multi-instrumentalists were able to promote and showcase their works at the APAM and resulted in opportunities to perform in Germany, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Hungary among others. Koe Gaik Cheng will return form her attachment and share her leanings with the local communities.
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