(From left) Wong, Yeoh with GTWHI managers Muhammad Hijas Sahari and Amy Goh holding up posters announcing the return of the George Town Festival. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
THE annual George Town Festival (GTF) 2023 will be back from July 15 to 30 to celebrate art, culture and heritage.
With something for everyone to enjoy, the 16-day festival by George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) will include myriad artistic works by local and international artists to bring tangible and intangible heritage through continued global partnership and exchange.
GTF events this year will feature indigenous ethnic-cultural performances, digital installations, community-based events as well as games, workshops and forums, to be held in over 20 locations in the city.
Some of the performances and events will feature creative exchanges with artistes from Taiwan and Australia too.
The festival is organised by TLM Event Sdn Bhd.
The company’s managing director Jack Wong said GTF 2023 would feature over 50 programmes, with free access to 70% of its shows and events.
Penang tourism and creative economy committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said Penang’s rich cultural heritage and culinary delights as well as its vibrant and diverse art scene continued to be a major draw for tourists, making them an essential component to the state’s economy.
“In 2020, the creative industry employed 3,771 workers and contributed RM220mil to gross output, demonstrating that arts are not just an expression of our cultural identity, but also a driving force for economic growth and development.
“GTF has become a hallmark of Penang’s arts and culture scene since its inaugural edition in 2010.
“This year, GTF partners with the Australian High Commission to honour the 50th anniversary celebration of George Town and Adelaide as sister cities.
“In line with Penang Tourism Master Plan 2021-2030, the festival provides a platform for heritage, culture and arts stakeholders to enhance existing values through performance and events to showcase talents,” said Yeoh.
