Kongsi Bumbung: Penang community space offers arts residency programme

To help the arts community, Ruang Kongsi is offering four individuals a three-month residency with accommodation and utilities included. Photo: Ruang Kongsi

Ruang Kongsi, a cultural, artistic, and social community space in Penang, is opening up its venue to arts and culture practitioners.

It is offering a three-month residency, with accommodation and utilities included.

The independently-run space for social activities and artists also houses a community library.

The initiative, called Kongsi Bumbung: Residency For Arts And Cultural Practitioners, was announced recently on Ruang Kongsi’s Facebook page and will start when the movement control order (MCO) period ends.

“Ruang Kongsi came from the idea of kongsi (sharing) and ruang (space). Kongsi Bumbung is an extension of our core value which is the sharing of physical space, knowledge, ideas and solidarity, ” according to a joint statement from Ruang Kongsi members Loo Que Lin, Lee Cheah Ni and Okui Lala.

Formed in late 2018, Ruang Kongsi members work in smaller groups based on the direction of their current projects and interests. Crowdfunding is used to raise money to sustain the space, but as with most art initiatives, money is a challenge and members have been known to dig into their own pockets to run activities.

Ruang Kongsi, which was launched in late 2018, is focused on community-driven activities. Photo: Thum Chia Chieh

At a community catch-up organised by Penang Art District held in the first week of the MCO period in March, one of the concerns raised was the challenges of sustaining living spaces and working studios post-MCO due to lack of income for individuals in the arts scene.

Through Kongsi Bumbung, Ruang Kongsi takes another step forward in its role of filling in the gaps, in terms of the accessibility – both availability and affordability – of physical and non-physical public spaces in society.

With a bit of wiggle space making it possible for it to open its doors to others now, it hopes to reach out to artists or cultural practitioners who need it most and are left out from the initiatives announced by the government.

“We are blessed that our understanding landlord waived our rental for one month during the MCO and thought that our space could accommodate three or four more people in need. We think that this is the least that we can do with what we have. Ruang Kongsi was founded through crowdfunding and support among the collective members and the community in Penang. We understand the difficulties and how it feels to be in a helpless situation, so we want to help others too. Through the practice of kongsi, we hope to continue supporting the arts and cultural community in years to come, ” the statement adds.

Up to four persons will be sharing the space at Ruang Kongsi during the residency.

For more information, email [e-mail].