The Royal Arts Gala Fund ready for applications this 22 July!

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 inaugural Royal Arts Gala in November2012 amounting to more than RM700,000, will be ready to receive applications from Malaysian practitioners of the performing arts commencing 22 July 2013. The fund was raised 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.’

The Royal Arts Gala Fund is made available thanks to the corporate partners and arts enthusiasts who purchased tables during last year’s Royal Arts Gala, an iconic arts event organised by MyPAA and JKKN that is part of the Economic Transformation Programme, EPP1 of Communications Contentand Infrastructure. This is an annual exclusive and significant arts gala that is also intended to raise the profile of the arts in Malaysia and to encourage the private sector to be supportive of the development of artistic and cultural aspects of Malaysia. The aim of the fund is to support the following:

• 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 ideas will be submitted online via mypaa.com.my and will then be presented to the Performing Arts Selection Panel (the Selection Panel), which is setup to assess on the viability of the projects prior to the release of grants or resource needed for the project. The Selection Panel, 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. They include:

• Puan Shahira Bazari, Director Khazanah Nasional Berhad – Chairman of the Selection Committee
• YBhg Datuk Abdul Jalil Abdul Hamid – Group Managing Editor NSTP
• Mr R. Ramani Ramalingam – Deputy CEO Recording Industry Association of Malaysia
• Ms Jolyn Gasper – Head Corporate Responsibility, Community Affairs, ASTRO
• Ms Bilqis Hijjas – President My Dance Alliance
• Tuan Haji Supiat Mukri – Former Director of Istana Budaya
• JKKN Representative
• Culture Policy and Strategic Planning Division of MOTAC Representative
• MyPAA Representative

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. Subsidised arts may not be a common practice in Malaysia, but there’s a myriad of things happening and with the continuous support from both the public and private sector, for example, a steady form of fund generation can be done on a yearly basis to provide the industry some assistance. The arts’ ability to nurture creativity and innovative thinking skills are essential for us to remain competitive in a global economy and this only reaffirms that performing arts is a critical factor to nurture and cultivate further in our country,” said Izan Satrina, Founder and Director of MyPAA.

Datuk Norliza Rofli, Director General of JKKN said, “We look forward to supporting the industry to deliver this grants scheme which is responsive to the needs of practitioners of the performing arts in this developing industry. It is good to know that local practitioners now have access to the kind of support that ensures their skills and talents can further flourish and fulfil their potential.”

“Malaysians involved in the performing arts industry should take advantage of this opportunity to showcase their talents or heighten their skills for the better ment of themselves and the industry. Funding support is awarded through a highly competitive evaluation process by the Performing Arts Selection Panel. Applicants will be evaluated against a few criteria as well as the strength of relevant supporting materials submitted, however this should not be a deterrent in applying. Our team at MyPAA will be more than happy to attend to any individual or group enquiries pertaining to applying,” concluded Izan Satrina.

Application for the grant will be available four times a year. Individuals or companies interested in applying for the grant can do so via MyPAA’s website at www.mypaa.com.my. The first application deadline is Monday, 19 August 2013. Successful recipient will be announced in early September 2013. Further enquiries can be emailed to ragfund@mypaa.com.my.

About My Performing Arts Agency (MyPAA)

A member of the International Society of Performing Arts (ISPA), MyPAA is a privately owned arts agency with the express goal of supporting the continuing development of artistic and cultural efforts in Malaysia by bridging the gap between the public, private and performing arts sector.

Mahatma Gandhi’s “Be the Change That We Want To See” sets out very simply the mission statement of this agency. MyPAA aims to create an ecosystem that supports an environment for creative entrepreneurs, nurture a diverse and highly skilled arts workforce and increase the number of people experiencing the arts. For more information about MyPAA, visit mypaa.com.my or like us at facebook.com/myperformingartsagency.

For media enquiries:

Azimy Wan Ahmad

Strategic Events & Communications Manager @ Imagineer

T: (603) 6207 9566 E: azimy@mypaa.com.my