THE inaugural Penang Cultural Fest that honours George Town’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage site kicked off on Thursday, promising various exciting and colourful activities this month.Launched at Eastern and Oriental (E & O) Hotel in George Town by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, the event seeks to revitalise the heritage of the city.
The fest started with the launch of the book ‘The E & O Hotel - Pearl of Penang’, written by British-born Australian author and former Far Eastern Economic Review journalist Ilsa Sharp at the hotel.The book, which took 20 years to complete, celebrates the hotel, a 123-year-old heritage icon.
The book also features previously unpublished photos of the hotel shot by the late Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, the fourth Yang Di-Pertuan Agung.At the ceremony, an online in-formation platform called the iGeorgeTownPenang was also launched by Lim.
The privately funded platform offers integrated and comprehensive information on Penang’s culture and heritage for travellers, the mass media and business folk in the travel, hospitality and arts industries.Lim in his opening speech said the fest aimed to highlight George Town’s unique heritage and strengthen its cultural vibrancy.
“I hope it will encourage locals and visitors alike to experience the city as a workplace and a place to have fun,” he said.Later at a press conference at the hotel, event organiser Dr Neil Khor said the organisers aimed to make the fest an annual event.
Event chairman Khoo Kay Peng said the organisers were also hoping to get international performers to participate next year.The book ‘Photographing Malaysia: the Tan Thye Siew and Jimmy Tan collection’ that features over 200 photographs of George Town and other Malaysian cities was also launched as well as an E & O group-sponsored World Heritage Site Map by local historian and heritage activist Khoo Salma Nasution.
Another Penang Cultural Fest event is a five-day exhibition entitled ‘George Town: A Retrospective in the Visual Arts’ at E & O Hotel.The exhibition introduces visitors to the city through historical paintings of Penang from the state museum; photographs depicting Malaysian social life by photographer Tan Thye Siew and his son Jimmy Tan; and watercolour paintings by Penang Watercolour Association members.
The exhibition will end on Monday.Other activities include a jazz festival, a musical night at Fort Cornwallis, a food hunt and food exhibition, and a street opera at Little Penang Street Market.Penang Cultural Fest main sponsors are E & O hotel (event host), LG Electronics and Pacific Departmental Stores (Penang Cultural Night).
Mercedes Benz (Penang Island Jazz Festival), Shell Malaysia and DiGi (food hunt and food fest), Sympologic Sdn Bhd (Little Penang Street Market) and the Korean Tourism Association and Star Publications (An Enchanting Evening with the Goguryo Korean Orchestra)..