My Performing Arts Agency Announces Calls for 2015 Funding for the Performing Arts

My Performing Arts Agency (MyPAA), the organiser behind the prestigious Royal Arts Gala, and the National Department for Culture & Arts (JKKN) together with the Ministry of Tourism & Culture (MOTAC) are pleased to announce that the funds raised during The Royal Arts Gala in January 2014 is now ready to receive applications from Malaysian practitioners of the performing arts. The fund was raise to energise the collaborative partnerships for the creation and development of new arts ventures in Malaysia and have been channelled to the ‘Kumpulan Wang Amanah Kebudayaan dan Kebajikan Penggiat Seni’. Last year, a total of 31 out of 170 entries were awarded funding from The Royal Arts Gala Fund. Those who were awarded include Pentas Project Theatre Production, Temple of Fine Arts, Hands Percussion, Five Arts Centre, Shakespeare Demystified, ACX Productions amongst others.

Some notable works made possible with the contribution of The Royal Arts Gala Fund include:

• Teater Kompilasi Namron by Rumah Anak Teater: a Malaysiantheatre work staged at Esplanade,Singapore

• By Lee Wushu Arts Theatre: a Malaysian movement work staged at The 9th Dancing Festival of Chiayi, Taiwan

• Flatland by TerryandtheCuz a collaboration between Australian and Malaysian artistes in contemporary dance

• Line Of Exchange Between Two Dance Practices by Lim How Ngean: a collaboration between Cambodian and Malaysian artistes exploring classical and contemporary dance

• Profiling Malaysian Community Artists, their Projects and Innovative Approaches by Arts-­‐Ed Penang: Research and documentation

• Peperangan Bintang by Actiontintoy Design Laboratory: Research and documentation

The Royal Arts Gala Fund is made available thanks to the corporate partners and arts enthusiasts who purchased tables during the second Royal Arts Gala that took place in January 2014 at the former Istana Negara. This is an annual exclusive and significant arts gala-­‐ a synergy of efforts by the government, the corporate sector and the players in the arts and creative industry-­‐ also intended to raise the profile of the arts in Malaysia and to encourage the private sector to be supportive of the development of artisticand cultural aspects of Malaysia.

The Royal Arts Gala this year also saw the presentation of The Royal Medallion awards-­‐ one to an individual and another to a corporate company-­‐in recognising the ongoing contributions towards the growth and importance of the arts in the country. YBhg Datuk Ramli Ibrahim of Sutra Foundation was honoured with the Anugerah Tokoh Seni (Kreatif) award, and Sime Darby Foundation with the Anugerah Tokoh Seni (Korporat) award.

The aim of The Royal Arts Gala Fund encourages global culture mobility, with the larger aim of extending networks and supporting collaboration between cultural professionals from Malaysia and international partners.

The funding of up to RM30,000 include can be utilised for the below:

• The promotion of Malaysian artists and works overseas (eg. in performing arts market, festival, showcase, pitch session, tour)

• The facilitation of international co-­productions and collaborations involving Malaysian and overseas talent 

• The development of technical and managerial skills among Malaysian performing arts managers and administrators 

• Research and documentation projects in the performing arts The National Creative Industry Policy (DIKN) defined performing arts inclusive of dance, music and theatre

These performing arts ideaswill be submitted online via mypaa.com.my and will then be presented to the Performing Arts Selection Panel (the Selection Panel), which is set up to assess on the viability of the projects prior to the release of grants or resource needed for the project. Applicants will be evaluated against a few criteria as well as the strength of relevant supporting materials submitted.

The Selection Panel is made up of reputable members of the private, public and performing arts sectors, will act as the gatekeepers to ensure that the proposals fit the requirements. The Selection Panel is chaired by Puan Shahira Bazari, Director Khazanah Nasional Berhad.

According to Founder and Director of MyPAA, Izan Satrina, "The case of the arts in Malaysia is yet to be a priority...but there are some who strongly believe in the power of the arts, and have supported the development of Malaysian arts in their own capacity and there are some who have generously contributed to The Royal Arts Gala Fund. We truly appreciate these angels who have contributed to widen access to the arts throughtout the country, as well as to maintain and develop our arts institutions in Malaysia. Consistency in whatever we do is important and hence we hope to have this steady form of fund generation on a yearly basis to provide the industry some assistance," 

Individuals or companies interested in applying for the grant can do so via MyPAA’s website at www.mypaa.com.my. The application deadline is 11 January 2014 and successful candidates will be contacted in early March 2015. Further enquiries can be emailed to azirah@mypaa.com.my or ragfund@mypaa.com.my.