IN order to help the Performing Arts Centre of Penang (penangpac) overcome the hard times during this Covid-19 pandemic, a three-night long virtual fundraising event will be held this month.
The Penang Art District is collaborating with penangpac to hold the fundraising event, titled ‘Sesi Kopi with penangpac’, virtually on Sept 17, 18 and 19 from 8pm to 10pm.
In a press statement, Penang Art District project executive Kenny Ng said the event was to assist penangpac, the only performing arts centre in the northern region of Malaysia, go through a financial crisis.
“The virtual fundraising event will be hosted by Moe Hawk of Penang Hidden Gems, where there will be conversations with penangpac co-founders Faridah Merican and Joe Hasham, the Rondo Production which has been supporting penangpac in various fundraising efforts and state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin.
“It will be three exciting nights filled with interactive chats and pre-recorded performances by the local performing artists, including a live comedy skit, short plays, music performances and poetry,” Ng said.
He added that the arts industry has been badly hit by series of lockdowns.
To date, he said penangpac has been closed for 286 days, with 80 in-person performances and programmes postponed and cancelled.
In 2020 and this year, the centre suffered a total loss of RM495,000 while the centre requires RM600,000 a year to continue its operation.
Over the past year and a half, penangpac has been running a major fundraising effort called ‘Patron of the Arts’ and has successfully raised RM150,000.
Ng said unfortunately that was not sufficient and that public contribution would be important to maintain arts centre facilities.
The event will be broadcast via Facebook Live on Performing Arts Centre of Penang (penangpac)’s Facebook Page.
Audience can donate through direct bank transfer, PayPal or by pledging a donation amount during the live broadcast.
For further information, please contact Kenny Ng at 016-4823947 or Stephanie at 016-2250974.
Story by Edmund Lee