With the extension of Phase One of movement control under the National Recovery Plan to curb the spread of Covid-19, the cultural and creative sectors will continue to remain shut.
The ongoing closure of performing arts spaces and the suspension of cultural events - which began in the Klang Valley on May 7 before the implementation of total nationwide lockdown on June 1 - has left the arts scene nationwide verging on Covid-induced collapse.
The immediate measures now are to get food aid to arts communities and individuals who are negatively impacted by the pandemic and the various lockdowns.
The Food Aid Programme, a collaboration between the Cultural Economy Development Agency (Cendana) and Yayasan Sime Darby, aims to assist
1,500 artists and cultural workers across the nation.
Applicants will receive cash vouchers worth RM160 (single) and RM220 (married).
“Our focus with our communities is quite broad ranging from artisans, craft makers, craft producers, buskers, veteran singers, technical crew, production workers, actors, dancers and others, ” says Izan Satrina Mohd Sallehuddin, the founding CEO of Cendana.
“Our ‘Covid-19 Impact On The Arts’ report shows that 93% of artists and cultural workers are negatively impacted with 70% having lost most or all of their income. Therefore, this programme is carved out for them, ” she adds.
The programme is conducted with community partners such as the arts space PORT in Ipoh and the Penang Art District. Traditional arts outfit Pusaka is also set to assist this Cendana programme in Kelantan in the next food aid cycle.
This is the second phase of the Food Aid Programme. In the first phase last year, 118 artists from the Klang Valley were helped.
In the second phase, Izan shares Cendana has received more than 800 applications from various states since registration was opened on June 14.
“We are hoping to assist (in Cycle 2) up to 200 artists and cultural workers in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Perak and Pulau Pinang, ” says Izan.
With Yayasan Sime Darby recently topping up additional food vouchers, Cendana is set to expand this community-forward mission to assist up to 1, 300 artists and cultural workers who have been affected.
This will now cover other areas including Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Sabah and Sarawak.
Currently, there are approximately 206, 194 arts practitioners in Malaysia that are involved in the various art sectors under Cendana.
With no virtually live shows, gigs, festivals and exhibitions since last year, many were forced to take salary cuts or worse, lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meet.
Going beyond the Klang Valley
“In this time of daily TV updates and pandemic statistics, it’s easy for people to be numbed by the ongoing circumstances. Everybody is suffering, but as someone who is directly involved in the arts scene in Ipoh, I have had arts practitioners and people who work backstage coming to PORT to ask for help.
"When people need to put food on their table, and they can’t work because of Covid restrictions in their field, the consequences are devastating,” says Nur Hanim Khairuddin, PORT general manager, and director of the Ipoh International Art Festival.
“It’s a total paralysis for the arts. And this is coming from a city like Ipoh which is slowly finding its own voice in the arts scene. The rebuilding ahead will be a challenge, but we have the arts people here to make it happen.
"Right now, they need our help. At PORT, we will do all we can despite our limited resources. I’m glad to see a food aid programme coming through, especially one with nationwide reach. It’s a way for us to work with Cendana and help identify arts workers (in Ipoh) who have been hardest hit by the lockdown... this is a short-term measure, but every little thing helps now, ” she adds.
Nearly 100 arts and creative practitioners in the state of Perak will receive the second phase Food Aid package, which has been increased to meet the growing numbers of applicants.
Cycles 3 and 4 of the Food Aid Programme will take place from July 5-11 and July 12-18 respectively.
“The arts industry in Penang has experienced significant economic setbacks from Covid-19. Across the different arts and creative fields, restriction on public gatherings, closing of domestic and international tourism, changes in consumer behaviour and the scarcity of employment opportunities have taken a toll on arts practitioners, ” offers Stephanie Kee, Penang Art District’s project executive.
“The food aid programme will be a temporary measure to ensure the vulnerable groups of arts practitioners who are at risk of losing their rental homes and struggling to afford essential needs.
“The aid will be a quick help to ease their burden and support them in purchasing food and essential goods to survive for another month or two during this full lockdown period. This is especially important for arts practitioners with dependents to care for, ” adds Kee.
Under the Food Aid Programme, practitioners with a minimum of two years of relevant professional experience whose income has been negatively impacted by the pandemic are encouraged to apply.
“However, in the long term, there is a need for policy changes, greater relief programmes and more economic efforts, beginning at the national level, to revive the already strained arts sector as the entire country’s economy recovers from the pandemic for the months and years to come, ” says Kee.
This initiative is supported by a Ministry of Finance Malaysia grant as part of the government's Perlindungan Ekonomi dan Rakyat Malaysia (PERMAI) assistance package, coordinated by Yayasan Hasanah through the GLC/GLIC Disaster Response Network (GDRN).
Pusaka continues its East Coast mission
Traditional culture organisation Pusaka will be partnering with Cendana for its next cycle of the Food Aid Programme to help reach artists in Kelantan.
Additionally, Pusaka is continuing its food aid drive to traditional arts communities in Kelantan and Terengganu.
In the first round, RMM23, 394 was raised and RM13, 146 was used to help 100 households early this month (June). The remainder of the funds were carried forward for round two, with an additional donation of RM3, 350 from Yayasan Lim Yee Hoh. Another 100 households will benefit from this round.
Pusaka stated that every RM117 will provide a food package for one household, which will help them subsist for two to three weeks. The food package will include items like rice, eggs, sardines and cooking oil.
Pusaka is currently gearing up for a third round of the food aid drive. It has already received a contribution from Allianz Malaysia Berhad.
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