Institutions form the official pillars of the Malaysian art scene, helping to create important frameworks for its development. In their various forms, institutions may provide sustained support for artists and art activities, act as interfaces between art and the public, and/or act as custodians of our artistic heritage through collections and documentation. The institutions invited to this roundtable included: state art and university museums and galleries, government agencies involved in the visual arts, corporations active in visual arts support and collecting, foreign cultural organisations, and privately funded arts programmes.
The roundtable aimed to:
- document the developments and activities of institutions involved in Malaysian art
- help foster a broad network of such institutions, encouraging the sharing of information, concerns and strategies, practical problems and solutions
- begin a conversation addressing the role of institutions in Malaysian art infrastructure, including crucial current and future issues
After a first session of introductory presentations, Session 2 : Building, Programming, Collecting, Funding, Connections addressed some of the challenges and issues faced by institutions involved in Malaysian art, including targets and best practices, acquisition, conservation and maintenance policies and practices of institutional collections, programming and funding. Session 3 then looked at larger questions of Roles, Responsibilities and Relevance, and how institutions can and do contribute to the development of the Malaysian art scene, asking questions like: Who do institutions serve? Why do they support the visual arts? How can they better co-operate with each other, and what are directions and visions for the future? It was a very heartfelt and open session, underlining the many difficulties facing art-related institutions today.
Our sincere thanks to Encik Rosli Abdul Rahim and his team at GALERI PETRONAS for their fantastic support for this event, and to our moderators and all those who attended the session from near and far:
National And State Art Museums and Galleries
Prof Dr Ramlan Abdullah
Board of Trustees National Visual Arts Gallery En. Faizal Sidek
Curator, Publication Division
National Visual Arts Gallery
|
Puan Nor Alisa Binti Abdul Rahman
Director
Johor Art Gallery
Jennifer Linggi
Curator
Sabah Art Museum
|
Puan Syahidah Abu Sah
Curator
Melaka Art Gallery and Museum
|
University Art Museums and Galleries
En. Zolkurnian Hassan
Director
Muzium and Galeri Tuanku Fauziah, USM
En. Abdul Aziz Abdul Rashid
Head/Curator
Universiti Malaya Art Gallery
Corporate Art Galleries/Programmes/Funding
En. Mohd Iqbal bin Abdul Rahim
Head, Corporate Responsibility
CIMB
Badrolhisham Tahir
Head of Exhibitions
GALERI PETRONAS
Cultural Bodies/Funding/Programmes
Marine Moncaut
Cultural Officer
Alliance Française
|
Elizabeth Cardosa
Director
Badan Warisan Malaysia
|
Rolf Stehle
Director Cultural Programme
Goethe Institut
|
David Ngui
Programme Coordinator
Goethe Institut
|
Katherine Chui, Chan Yin Kwan, Joanne Foo
Public Relation Dept Executives
Soka Gakkai Malaysia |
Tuan Ramzi Abu Yazid
Senior Deputy Director
Malaysia Tourism Board, Advertising Division (1MCAT)
|
Kyoko Kugai
Senior Program Officer
The Japan Foundation
|
Private Institutions/Initiatives
Marion D'Cruz
Five Arts Centre/Krishen Jit-ASTRO Fund
|
Angela Hijjas
Rimbun Dahan
|
Yee I-Lann
Board of Directors
Tamparuli Living Arts Centre
|
Guests
Rahel Joseph
| |
Valentine Willie
Pn. Wairah Marzuki | |
Zainol Shariff
|
MODERATORS
Session 2: Suryani Senja Alias
Session 3: Kathy Rowland
 |
| En Badrolhisham on behalf of Encik Rosli Abdul Rahim for Galeri Petronas giving a welcoming speech. |
 |
| Participants from the various institutions at the roundtable. |
 |
| Mr Rolf Stehle giving a brief introduction to Goethe Institute. |
 |
| Yee I-Lann introduces the various aspects of Tamapruli Living Arts Centre that is located in Sabah. |
 |
| Suryani Senja Alias reads out her questions to the participants for the second session. |
 |
| A light moment at the roundtable. |
 |
| Valentine Willie, a guest of to the roundtable shares some thoughts. |
 |
| Kathy Rowland moderates the third session of the roundtable. |
 |
| View of the roundtable at Galeri Petronas. |