Speech by the Chief Minister of Penang Lim Guan Eng on 6 September 2015:
We are here this morning, pleased to witness the official signing ceremony between the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and Yayasan Haji Zainuddin to set up a new iconic art museum, Ilham Penang in Georgetown.
Penang is extremely excited with this new proposed development because every renowned international city in this world has within its walls a collection of iconic and illustrious art museums. We are also extremely enthusiastic because the ‘investment’ by Yayasan Haji Zainuddin will be a catalyst for culture-led urban regeneration in historical Georgetown.
The PDC has granted a 30+30 year lease on approximately 1.5 acres of land at the proposed 5.5 acre Penang Heritage Arts District to Yayasan Haji Zainuddin with the specific purpose of building the iconic art museum.
In return, Yayasan will invest at least RM30 million to build Ilham Penang and cover the cost of its operations and maintenance over the period of time. The art museum will have at least 45,000 square feet of gallery space which will be the largest of its kind in Malaysia.
In contrast, the National Visual Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur is only built on 0.35 acre of land while the private Galeri Petronas and Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia have 21,600 and 14,700 square feet of gallery space respectively.
In addition to gallery space, the museum will offer a café and/or restaurant, a library, a 200-seat auditorium and art storage facilities. The museum will be free for school-going children while adults will only be charged at a nominal rate.
Ilham Penang, when completed, will certainly go a long way towards making Penang an international destination of choice and contribute immensely towards the Georgetown remaining as one of the most livable cities of the world.
More importantly, in the times of economic slowdown and uncertainty, Ilham Penang will be a catalyst for urban regeneration in Georgetown.
The London Tate Modern is the perfect example of how an art museum breathed new life into an important historical area of central London. In 15 years, London Southwark where the museum was located received millions of visitors annually. The number of people living in the area doubled, and thousands of new workers arrived as large and small businesses mushroomed. New hotels, cafés, shops and restaurants have also sprung up to cater for these new communities.
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In addition, it should be highlighted that the best museums in the world are often privately run and owned museums, including Tate in London, Leeumm – Samsung Museum of Art in Korea, Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art in Paris, Francois Pinault Foundation in Venice and the Guggenheim in New York are all privately funded museums. We similarly believe that the Ilham model will be equally successful because the Trustees of Yayasan Zainuddin will be heavily incentivised to ensure that it succeeds, as it is their own money. And they have shown their desire to succeed by appointing one of the best art curators in the country today, Valentine Willie.
The privately run Museum model is fully in-line with the state’s principle that the we limit our role to a facilitator for the private sector. Hence we believe that the PDC-Yayasan Haji Zainuddin public-private partnership will give the project the greatest chance of success in Penang.
Ladies and gentlemen,
For the record, Sia Boey is the name for a locality within the heart of George Town and in Hokkien it means “Town’s End”, and was home to hundreds of local families in the trading business. In Malay, the area is known as Ujung Pasir.
For over 150 years, the mention of Sia Boey or Ujung Pasir brings back nostalgic memories of a bustling market filled with commercial and cultural activities – it was the showcase of Penang’s culture, heritage and commerce, at its best.
Therefore we are pleased that besides a RM30 million Ilham Penang, PDC will be investing an additional RM70 million to make Sia Boey, the Penang Heritage Arts District. In line with George Town’s World Heritage status, the dilapidated heritage shop houses will not be torn down but will be meticulously restored, to be occupied by art galleries, studios, schools and workspaces.
The Victorian Prangin Market will host flea markets and the best flavours of Penang street food. The Prangin Canal will be upgraded into a pristine water feature to complement a beautiful 2-acre public park dotted with stunning sculptures and installations, a unique open green space within George Town.
Our ambition isn’t only to make the Heritage Arts District the must-visit destination in Penang, the premier art district in Malaysia, but also in the whole of Southeast Asia. We want Penang to become the destination of choice for artists and art lovers, for locals and tourists in the region.
I am pleased to note that the arts and creative communities of Penang have given their full support for this event by setting up art stands showcasing the history and heritage of Penang.
In conjunction with today’s launch, there is a showcase of artworks produced by local artists, working in collaboration art societies and galleries such as The Penang Arts Society, Penang Chinese Brush Painting Art Society, Penang Oil Painting Society, Penang Water Colour Society, Urban Sketches Penang, Batek-Lah Collection, The Art Gallery Penang and Alyssa Khoo Gallery.
I would also like to thank the PDC team for putting together an exhibition which recorded the past of Sia Boey, the state it is today and the future it will become in an exhibition which will be held here for a week till 13thSeptember 2015.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today’s event bears testimony to Penang’s rich and diverse heritage, cultures, traditions and tantalising cuisine, which we must continue to nourish so that in our efforts to transform and develop Penang into an international city, we can still retain the ‘soul’ of Penang, with its unique old world charm.
Thank you.
—–Mandarin Version —
槟州首席部长于2015年9月6日见证槟州发展机构及哈芝再努丁基金会签署在乔治市兴建新的标志性槟城灵感艺术馆（Ilham Penang）的仪式发表演讲，重点如下：
槟州发展机构已经允许将建议中5.5英亩的槟城古迹艺术专区其中的1.5英亩土地，以30+30年的方式出租给哈芝再努丁基金会，特别用来兴建标志性的槟城灵感艺术馆。
基金会将投资至少3000万令吉以兴建槟城灵感艺术馆，并承担一个时段的营运及维修费。艺术馆将拥有至少4万5000平方尺的画廊空间，届时将是全马最大。
反之，吉隆坡的国家视觉艺术馆只是建在0.35英亩的土地上，而国油私人画廊及马来西亚伊斯兰艺术画廊则分别拥有2万1600及1万4700平方尺的画廊空间。
艺术馆也会拥有一个咖啡馆、图书馆及可容纳200人的讲堂及艺术储藏设施。艺术馆将免费开放给学生，仅向成人征收象征性费用。我们相信上述基金会确保它的成功，他们已经委任了我国其中一名最好的艺术馆长： Valentine Willie。
过去150年，每当提到社尾，便会带领人民回到商业及文化艺术的全盛时期。
除了价值3000万令吉的槟城灵感艺术博物馆，槟城发展机构也将出资7000万，打造槟城古迹艺术专区。配合乔治市世界遗产的地位，当局不会拆除坍坏的古迹店屋，而是小心地修复，并引进艺术画廊、工作室、学校等等。
原本的社尾万山将会入驻跳蚤市场，港仔墘运河（Prangin Canal）将会提升为面积2英亩的公园的一部分，成为乔治市内独特的绿肺。
我们不只希望槟城古迹艺术特区成为国内必游之处，也它希望成为东南亚的重要景点。我们要槟城成为艺术家及艺术爱好者的荟集之地。