GEORGE Town Festival 2023 returns for the 14th time this year from July 15 to 30, and it is set to take place at over 20 locations across the cityscapes of George Town and wider Penang.
It is learnt that this year’s festival promises a spectacular celebration of art, culture and heritage for all to experience.
GTF director Jack Wong told a press conference on May 17 that this year’s 16-day festival will present a myriad of outstanding artistic works by Malaysian and international artists, featuring productions across varied art forms ranging from traditional, contemporary, experimental and multidisciplinary.
“All these will make this year’s festival the most exciting iteration in recent years, bringing tangible and intangible heritage through continued global artistic partnership and exchange.
“We will have over 50 programmes with free access to 70 per cent of its shows and events.
“The programme line-up includes several premiering and debut productions, indigenous-ethnic cultural performances, digital installations, books and game launches, community-based events and a series of arts masterclass, workshops and forums.
“To further stimulate global artistic partnerships, GTF 2023 will facilitate performances and events between artists from the East and West Malaysia and creative exchange with Taiwan and Australia.
“This year, the festival will partner with the Australian High Commission as a channel to honour the 50th-anniversary celebration of George Town and Adelaide as sister cities.
“A highlight of this is ‘The Senses’ presenting a sensory immersive musical experience within the natural environment of Penang Hill’s 130-million-year-old rainforest,” Wong said.
For more details about the festival, please visit GTF’s Facebook page at George Town Festival | Facebook.
Also present during the press conference was state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin.
Story and pix by Kevin Vimal