Boost for the arts: this year's Krishen Jit Fund is now open for applications

The Krishen Jit Fund was created to encourage and support experimental creative work in Malaysia. Photo: Filepic

This year's Krishen Jit Fund is now open for applications. The announcement was made today by KL-based performing arts company Five Arts Centre, which manages the fund.

While the Covid-19 pandemic has created profound uncertainty across all facets of life this year, the 2020 Krishen Jit Fund will continue to support the essential work of arts and cultural practitioners in Malaysia during these difficult times.

“I feel it sends a concrete message of hope to artists. We are still here. You can still apply. I have absolute confidence that artists will rise to the occasion, and come up with good projects, ” says Marion D’Cruz, Five Arts Centre co-founder and Krishen Jit Fund manager, in a media statement.

The Krishen Jit Fund was created to encourage and support experimental creative work in Malaysia. One of the main objectives of theatre director Krishen Jit’s pioneering work was to celebrate original Malaysian art, across a range of disciplines, and in pursuit of innovative modes of expression and intervention.

Krishen Jit, who died of a stroke in 2005 aged 65, had a widespread influence on the development of local theatre for over four decades.

The Krishen Jit Fund (formerly Krishen Jit Astro Fund) has supported 64 grantees over the past 15 years. This year, the Fund is supported by Astro and Creador Foundation.

In 2020, the fund will give out grants ranging from RM1,000 to RM20,000 for: workshops, attachments/ residencies, experimental productions, research and documentation, writing, creating new work in music, dance, theatre, writing, film, visual/ performance arts and others.

The Krishen Jit Fund will try to be inclusive, but work sited in Malaysia will be given preference. All arts practitioners in Malaysia are eligible to apply. Deadline is Sept 15.

More info: Five Arts Centre.