GEORGE TOWN, Nov 11 – Joe Sidek who was re-appointment as the festival director by Penang State Government said the seventh edition GTF is scheduled to be held throughout on August next year. Therefore, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng also announced the renewal of Joe’s contract as festival director for the next three years. On the renewal, Joe said he still has many ideas and plans for the festival, and hopes to take it to the next level.
Meanwhile, Joe said that the festival has generated a total PR value of RM16.05 million and media value of RM3.8 million on this year’s GTF. For next year, the state government has also allocated for RM4 million for the festival while Joe also said here on Tuesday that he hopes the Tourism and Culture Ministry will also be allocating more funds.
In the meantime, organisers are also currently calling the proposals for next year’s programme line-up, Joe said, adding that the deadline for submissions is on December 31. He said he hope that all the staff may start to confirming acts by January and plan out the programme to announce it by March next year. GTF 2016 which will feature a bright with also using the canary-yellow theme as it will be focused this time on capacity-building and the community.
According to Joe, GTF has received only one proposal is from a Penang artist while most of the proposals from all over the world so far which were including from Brazil, Argentina, Iran, Brazil, Canada, Australia and Korea. He said he would like to appeal again to Penang people to come forward and submit their proposals and be a part of the festival.
“We are hoping to come up with a production that we can bring overseas to perform outside of Malaysia which give local a chance to experience the things that doesn’t experience before in Malaysia,” said Joe. For more information, members of the public can obtain the latest update via George Town Festival website at www.georgetownfestival.com.
