Cultural collaboration program
The Australia-Malaysia Institute's (AMI) cultural program develops and supports collaboration initiatives in the arts which foster sustainable institutional and people-to-people links.
In 2010–2011 the AMI funded a range of cultural institutions and artists in Malaysia and Australia.
Melaka Art and Performance Festival
The Melaka Arts and Performance Festival, held from 26 – 28 November, has become an important event in Melaka's cultural calendar. The festival is held at the UNESCO World heritage site and aims to contribute to Melaka becoming a cultural centre in Malaysia.
A large number of Malaysian-Australian artists participated including renowned Melbourne dancer Tony Yap and Wei Zen Ho, reinforcing the closeness of cultural linkages between the two countries. AMI Artist in Residence at Rimbun Dahan Anthony Pelchen and artist Anthony Silver (funded by the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur) exhibited photographic works as part of the festival.
The festival was launched by the Chief Minister of Melaka, Mod Rustam who thanked Australia for supporting the festival and pledged ongoing assistance for the festival to feature on the Malaysian national calendar of cultural tourism events.
AMI supported the festival in collaboration with MultiCultural Arts Victoria.
Australian and Malaysian Cooperation in cultural heritage
The AMI supported AusHeritage, Australia's International Heritage Industry network and the Penang Heritage Trust on a five month heritage conservation cooperation program at the George Town World Heritage Site. As a result two memorandums of understanding on cultural heritage cooperation were signed by the Chairman of AusHeritage, the President of the Penang Heritage Trust and the Director of ThinkCity. This will provide a framework for Australia's international network of heritage services to continue to work closely with Malaysian counterparts and institutions into the future.
Tropfest in Malaysia
The premiere of Tropfest in Malaysia was a highlight for the 2010 public diplomacy program. The Australian High Commissioner hosted a premiere screening attended by many of Malaysia's leading filmakers and cultural commentators. Four free public screenings held at the Annex Gallery cinema in Kuala Lumpur and one screening at the George Town Festival were launched by the Penang Chief Minister. Malaysian audiences, both at the premiere and public screenings, were impressed by both the quality of the films and scope of the festival with 150,000 people attending the festival in Australia annually. Mr Michael Laverty, Tropfest Managing Director, received enquiries from potential Malaysian partners to collaborate on future Tropfest screenings.
Artists' Residencies in Malaysia and Australia
In 2010–2011 the AMI was delighted to be involved in co-sponsoring three artists residencies for two Australians and one Malaysian in the areas of dance, sound and music, and visual arts.
Daniel Jaber undertook a performing arts residency at Rimbun Dahan, Malaysia and during his residency created two contemporary dance works with Malaysian and Australian dancers. Since his initial residency Daniel has returned to Rimbun Dahan to continue to develop his work and collaboration with Malaysian dancers.
Sean Taylor-Leech was selected to undertake a residency at the Café House of Arts and Ideas (CHAI) in Malaysia and contributed music and sound design at Instant Café Theatre productions building strong networks with Malaysia's creative industries.
Daniel Jaber's and Sean Taylor-Leech's artists residencies were part of the Asialink Arts in Residency program designed to enable Australian practitioners to form productive networks with the Malaysian arts communities and organisations, as well as promote aspects of contemporary Australian culture in Malaysia.
The Australian High Commission selected Malaysian artist Liew Kwai Fei to undertake an eight week visual artist's residency at Gertrude Contemporary Arts Studios in Melbourne providing an opportunity for a Malaysian artist to be exposed to Australian culture and collaborate with Australian artists.
Rimban Dahan, Bodies Across Boundaries – Dancing the Malaysia-Australia Link
This project provided an opportunity for Malaysian and Australian contemporary dancers to collaborate and create new art works involving three performances of four new contemporary works. Two were choreographed by Malaysian choreographers and performed by Australian dancers and two were created by Australian choreographers and performed by Malaysian dancers. Performances were held at the Actors Studio Theatre in Kuala Lumpur and at Rimbun Dahan in Selangor.
Malaysian Carnivale and Malaysian Festival
The AMI with the Malaysian Students' Council of Australia (MASCA) engages with Malaysian students studying in Australia to strengthen the Australia-Malaysia relationship and to celebrate the rich diversity of Malaysian culture. In 2010 MASCA Victoria and MASCA South Australia held successful cultural festivals in Melbourne and Adelaide attracting thousands of visitors to promote Malaysian arts, culture and food in Australia.
The 2010 Malaysian Carnival was awarded the 'Community Event of the Year Award' at the City of Adelaide Australia Day awards. It is hoped that these will become an annual feature in the Australian cultural festival calendar.
Australian Malaysian Film Festival 2010, AMFF
The Australian Malaysian Film Festival is a film and arts cultural event which includes bringing the best and latest Malaysian films to Australia as well as musical performances, entertainment, food, film forums and a display of brochures and information from companies that benefit from cross cultural collaboration.
Guests at the 2011 AMFF included Malaysian born Australian Adam Liaw, Winner of MasterChef Australia 2010 and Malaysia's number one comedian Harith Iskandar; well known Malaysian film makers and actors and government officials such as the Malaysian Minister for Industry and Trade, and Malaysia's High Commissioner were also in attendance.
As an established and respected community arts event since 2007, the 2010 AMFF continued to promote Malaysian culture and history.
International Conference Girls' Brigade, Malaysia
The AMI contributed to sending three youth representatives to the Girls Brigade International Conference in 2010 to represent Australian women and youth in leadership development and discuss cross cultural issues. 36 nations attended with over 200 representatives present. Issues discussed highlighted the differences that countries face in developing and implementing programs for girls both on a cultural and funding level. The delegates discussed collaborating on a shared program for the Asia and Pacific group and opportunities to develop ties with Malaysia in the form of networking and sister relationships.