CREATIVE Weekend Penang 2026 is expected to bring together about 300 artists, creative practitioners, entrepreneurs, community groups and members of the public in a two-day programme aimed at strengthening Penang’s creative economy and promoting Seberang Perai as an emerging creative hub.
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the event, organised by Joe Sidek Productions as part of Think City’s Levelling Up Seberang Perai project, will be held on Oct 3 and 4 from 5pm to 11pm at the Straits City Concept Centre.
The programme will feature performances, workshops, creative activities, sharing sessions, exhibitions and creative entrepreneurship opportunities.
Wong said the initiative was designed to provide a platform for artists, creative practitioners, community organisations and entrepreneurs to showcase their work, build networks and explore collaborations.
“Creative Weekend Penang 2026 is a community-driven programme that brings together arts, culture, performances, workshops, creative activities, vendors and creative entrepreneurship.
“It provides an opportunity for artists, creative practitioners, community organisations, entrepreneurs and members of the public to come together, exchange ideas, showcase their work and build new connections,” he said during a press conference today.
Wong said supporting initiatives such as Creative Weekend Penang was important as the creative economy extended beyond established artists and cultural institutions.
“The creative economy includes our designers, performers, filmmakers, artisans, makers, creative entrepreneurs, vendors and community practitioners.
“Many of these talents are already contributing to Penang’s cultural identity, but they need more platforms to gain exposure, build networks and reach wider audiences,” he said.
Among the highlights of the programme are sharing sessions featuring Malaysians who have achieved success on the international stage, including artist Red Hong Yi, model and classical dancer Vanizha Vasanthanathan, award-winning animator Irwan Junaidy and Terrence Conran of Terry & The CUZ.
Wong said such sessions could inspire young creatives to explore opportunities beyond the local market.
“We want our local talents to be inspired by people who have taken their work beyond our shores and to think about how their own ideas, skills and creative products can reach regional and international audiences,” he said.
He added that the event also carried a strong tourism component, as visitors today were increasingly seeking authentic cultural and community experiences.
“Tourism and creativity should not be viewed as separate sectors.
“Our visitors increasingly want more than just sightseeing. They want to experience our culture, meet our people, discover local stories and participate in meaningful activities,” he said.
Wong said the choice of Seberang Perai as the venue reflected efforts to showcase the area’s creative, tourism and community potential.
He added that, under the broader Levelling Up Seberang Perai initiative, efforts were also underway to connect tourism, heritage and creative experiences across the northern region.
“One of the concepts being developed is a special tourism package connecting Guar Kepah, Bujang Valley and the Lenggong Valley Archaeological Heritage.
“By connecting these destinations, we hope to encourage visitors to discover the wider archaeological, cultural and historical story of the northern region while creating opportunities for local communities, tourism operators and businesses,” he said.
Wong said Creative Weekend Penang should be viewed as more than a two-day event, as it demonstrated how government agencies, private sector players, arts organisations and community groups could work together to strengthen the creative ecosystem.
Penang Art Council chairman Joe Sidek said that the festival began as an effort to identify and support artisans across the northern region, involving months of research and engagement with craftspeople working in fields ranging from metalwork to woodcraft and batik.
He shared how early projects focused on creating unique Penang-inspired creative works, including a batik exhibition based on maps of Penang and Seberang Perai, with the aim of developing original intellectual property rooted in local identity.
“The initiative evolved into a broader effort to strengthen Penang’s creative economy,” he said.
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Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud