GEORGE TOWN, June 16 – George Town Heritage Celebrations 2022 is back with exciting program lines up on the 2, 3 and 7 July 2022. The 14th anniversary celebrations of George Town’s listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site will feature Penang’s rich and diverse cultural elements, including the much loved multicultural performances and interactive cultural workshops.
The annual George Town Heritage Celebrations returns with over 20 cultural performances, 9 cultural workshops, and 8 video documentations. Emphasis is given to performance arts, traditional craft, with emphasis on the importance of peaceful coexistence of people, nature, and culture. The Celebrations shall kick start on the weekend of 2 and 3 July with cultural performances by talented and passionate cultural practitioners and artisans from Penang.
This includes Persembahan Boria, Odissi Dance, Dikir Barat, lion dance, martial arts demonstrations, Chinese orchestra medley, Sitar recital and more. The highlighted features for 2 July is the 40 minutes Glove Puppet Theatre “The Monkey King’s Havoc in Heaven” by Beng Geok Hong Potehi Troupe, and the 40 minutes specially curated Persembahan Wayang Kulit “Wak Long Menjadi Raja” by Wak Long Music and Art Centre on 3 July.
All programs are complimentary with no registration needed, and the venue will be at Lebuh Acheh Basketball Court. On 7 July 2022, the George Town World Heritage Day (a public holiday in Penang) will kick-start with the George Town Discovery Walk at 7 a.m. Those who are keen to join the 5km fun walk in the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site enclave may register at https://howei.com/event_details/georgetowndiscoverywalk2022.
Public, in particular young adults and families with school age children, are invited to participate in the Cultural Workshops in the Garden from 5.30pm till 9.30 pm on 7 July 2022 at Armenian Park in Lebuh Acheh. Celebrations goers will be able to experience interactive programs such as Wau-making, Henna art, woodblock printing, wayang kulit making, kolam and thoranam making, Khat, calligraphy, and paper cutting workshop in this meaningful evening.
These workshops are organised in partnership with the Penang Islamic Foundation, Penang Hindu Association, Penang Clan Associations Youth Committee, Van Hin Book Co. and Wak Long Music and Art Centre. No registrations are required and activities will be available on a first come first serve basis. On the same evening, the Penang Cultural Heritage In The New Normal Mini-Documentary Films Screening will also be held at Dewan Belia Lebuh Acheh.
These films were documented by local film talents during the COVID-19 pandemic, which we hope can be inspiring for the public as we enter into the post-COVID-19 era in 2022. Throughout the Celebrations, drinking water dispensers will be provided at the celebration venues for the public to refill their water bottles on a complimentary basis. Additional public toilets will also be provided. As car parks are limited, the public are advised to use public transport or carpool.
Do consider parking vehicles at the multi-storey car park in the KOMTAR area and walk to Armenian Park for the Celebrations. George Town World Heritage Incorporated and the George Town Heritage Celebrations organising team look forward to celebrating the 14th anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with everyone, with many warm greetings, laughter, applause, encouragement and cheers.
The Armenian Park will also be decorated for this special occasion, so join us with your friends and families to create some good memories at the refreshing and beautiful background of George Town’s heritage. Detailed of the programs are attached as below:-
