《The George Town Festival (GTF)》 – Penang

The George Town Festival (GTF) returns for its 15th edition in 2024, bringing an exciting array of events to Penang from July 19th to July 28th. This annual celebration, now organized by Kerson Media Global Sdn Bhd, promises to be a vibrant showcase of arts, culture, heritage, and community. With the theme “Here & Now,” GTF 2024 will feature over 70 programmes including performing arts, visual arts, film, workshops, and family-friendly activities.

Amongst the programme lineup are five featured shows, which transcend language barriers and invite audiences to experience the unlimited possibilities of the performing arts. Encompassing contemporary Jingju, contemporary theatre, dance theatre, visual theatre and mime, GTF 2024 brings celebrated international acts and innovative local artists to Malaysian audiences.

George Town is abound with architectural charm. GTF 2024 will transform its well-worn spaces into stages for intimate site-specific performances and public art, embedding the arts into the very spatial fabric of the city. Not bound by conventional perceptions of what an arts space should be, the GTF 2024 team embraces the vision that anywhere can be a stage. With artistic events present in places such as alleyways, restaurants and parks, the festival will stimulate the imaginations of the public.

Community engagement and meaningful collaborations are at the core of GTF 2024’s mission, to cultivate Malaysia’s arts and culture ecosystem, foster industry networks and deepen intercultural ties in the arts across borders.

By organising an outreach project for remote communities and artist residencies, GTF 2024 will strengthen community ties with the festival and the city from different angles and on a deeper level. We are also providing platforms to nurture fresh ideas and emerging artists, sowing the seeds for new talents to bloom and bring global attention to Malaysian art.

Simultaneously, the festival will not only look at Penang, but will also expand its worldview by fostering collaboration and exchange between regional and international artists. These partnerships will elevate the festival’s position as an influential creative hub, and will allow George Town to soar to greater heights as a thriving creative city.

Here and now, get ready to embark on 10 days of celebrating arts and creativity. The time is ripe to immerse yourself in the arts—the language of our shared humanity.

George Town Festival 2024 is a project by George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI), organised by Kerson Media Global Sdn Bhd, and endorsed by Penang State Government, Penang2030 and Penang State EXCO Office for Tourism and Creative Economy (PETACE). The festival is supported by Penang Island City Council (MBPP), Penang Global Tourism (PGT) and National Department for Culture and Arts Penang (JKKN Pulau Pinang). International partners include Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia (TECO); Embassy of Spain in Malaysia; Directorate General of Culture, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology of Republic of Indonesia; as well as Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur.