KUALA LUMPUR: The Cultural Economy Development Agency (Cendana) which celebrates its 4th anniversary with a 4 Years Retrospective event aims to make Malaysia a hub known for great art and artists in line with spearheading the local cultural arts economy.
Since its inception in September 2017, the agency has initiated many programmes including Art in the City, Panggung Rakyat, Arts Education Scheme, Academy of Cultural Economy, as well as various forms of funding programmes for practitioners in the performing arts, independent music, visual arts and crafts.
Cendana CEO Izan Satrina Mohd Sallehuddin said that the agency had collaborated with many parties, including artists and cultural workers as well as public and private bodies for the past four years.
She added that the collaborations played an important role in the smooth execution of various programmes, such as providing professional exposure to artists and organisations, creating opportunities to bring in new audiences and to strengthen relationships.
"Cendana has worked with Yayasan Sime Darby, Think City Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur, Pusaka, Musicians for Musicians Malaysia, BeKraf Indonesia, the Adelaide Festival Trust Centre, New Delhi TV and the Indian Ocean Craft Triennale.
"Aside from that, we have provided various yearly financing programmes suitable for individual arts practitioners as well as collectives and organisations.
"The financing is very important to support the development and creation of works from all levels, including experiments relating to cultural arts economy activities," she said in a news report yesterday.
The effort encompasses exposure to required networks, the development of artists and cultural workers with the aim of ensuring sustainability for the target groups.
Since the establishment of Cendana, its programmes have succeeded in benefitting 1,000 artists and cultural workers, created job opportunities for over 14,000 Malaysians and upgraded the skills of 13,000 practitioners.
Izan said that Cendana has approved funds totalling RM19 million under the Economic Recovery Plan (Penjana) initiative and the Malaysian Creative Industry Stimulus Package (Prisma) to create job opportunities for over 6,000 Malaysians.
"In conjunction with our 4th anniversary celebrations, Cendana invited Sabahan artist Red Hong Yi who is known for creating art works using alternative materials to produce her artwork. She took 12 weeks to complete a three piece art installation titled Tanah.
"The work, a collaboration with 10 artists including four Cendana apprentices that were placed in Hong Yi's studio, featured 7kg of different types and colours of soil and sand from Peninsular and East Malaysia. It also utilised tree barks and stones that were later sealed with resin.
"The artwork was produced based on Hong Yi's 10-month-long research. Interviews with war veterans like Major Andrew Teoh Hoot Aun, Lieutenant Colonel Linus Lunsong Janti, Major Patrick Wong Sing Nang and Captain Panirchellvum Velaitham were also conducted," she said.
Izan explained that Cendana chose the subject of war veterans to pay tribute and recognise their contributions and sacrifices.
Cendana also celebrates the arts practitioners and cultural workers for their contributions to society.
"We are thankful to our unsung national warriors who fought for the nation, as well as those who champion the arts in order to raise the name of Malaysia.
"With the support that we provide, Cendana hopes to continue serving the arts community and strengthen the cultural arts economy for all levels of society," she said.
The 4 Years Retrospective celebration was organised online via Cendana's Facebook page.
Viewers were entertained by performances from Cendana's beneficiaries alumni that included Hands Percussion, Kwang Tung Dance Company, Myo and The Impatient Sisters.