RM10 million CENDANA grant fully approved – Tengku Zafrul
KUALA LUMPUR: A RM10 million grant allocated under the Malaysian Cultural Economic Development Agency (Cendana) through the National Economic Regeneration Plan (PENJANA) initiative last year, was fully approved to help support the lives of the people involved in the creative industry.
Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the grant was part of the RM225 million allocated through MyCreative Ventures Group to increase the resilience of the creative economy.
“To date, we have channeled RM5.54 million in funds to 554 creative industry workers.
“Another RM8 million allocated to Cendana under the People’s Protection and Economic Rehabilitation Package (PEMULIH), has been approved by 82 per cent,” he said when officiating ‘Pemulihan: Pembaharuan Exhibition, Fergana Art’ at Publika Shopping Gallery here today.
Tengku Zafrul said to revive creative industry activities, agencies such as the National Film Development Corporation (Finas), Cendana and MyCreative Ventures would intensify various initiatives.
Among others, under the 2022 Budget, he said a total of RM188 million was provided to continue initiatives such as the Digital Content Fund, Digital Multimedia Content project, Film Incentive and Perkasa Modal Insan Program.
Meanwhile, commenting on the exhibition, Tengku Zafrul said it featured rare events, a once -in -a -lifetime opportunity to take part in drafting and writing history.
“This edition is a more nuanced approach involving 89 creative professionals from visual artists, writers, poets, social scientists, musicians, scientists, technologists, architects, photojournalists and editors.
“In a nutshell is this project about what, beyond commercial interests and economic policy,” he said.
UEM Sunrise Bhd Chief Executive Officer Sufian Abdullah said apart from helping offer rental rebates to local artists in the art space during the Movement Control Order (PKP), it now continues to support them to re -interact with the audience through performances broadcast live via Facebook or YouTube channels.
The COVID-19-themed art exhibition, which runs until Dec 5, displays an extension of the impact of PKP and COVID-19 on people’s lives, livelihoods and communities over the past 20 months, in Malaysia.
The exhibition is co -sponsored by UEM Sunrise and supported by the Hasanah Foundation and the Art Gallery.
-english translation -faizal
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