Poet Afi Noor (centre) with audience members joining her in the closing piece ‘Can You See Me?’ at the Cipta Seni Incubator showcase at Five Arts Centre, Kuala Lumpur in September 2024. Photo: Cipta Seni Incubator
If you’re a Malaysia-based solo artist or collective seeking mentorship to develop your practice, this is your invitation to apply for the second cycle of "Cipta Seni Incubator: Untold Stories".Supported by the British Council’s Connections Through Culture grant, the programme is accepting applications until Feb 2.
Co-founded by Malaysian writer and arts advocate Sharmilla Ganesan and British cultural producer Tom Curteis, this cycle offers five months of one-on-one mentorship and guidance from experienced arts and culture professionals, culminating in a celebration event where participants will present excerpts of their works-in-progress.
In 2024, the inaugural Cipta Seni Incubator cohort featured four Malaysian artists: poet Afi Noor, theatremaker Yee Heng Yeh, poet Ashley Marilynne Wong, and creative producer Kevin Bathman.
The programme is largely online, providing flexibility for participants to balance other commitments while removing the need to travel.
“Being online allows the cohort to learn from and connect with some of the most exciting cultural leaders from both Malaysia and Britain, bringing in fresh perspectives and expanding networks without the need for travel,” says Curteis, based in England.
“It also opens the programme up to artists from all over Malaysia, not just those based in major cities. We’ve set aside a modest budget to help address additional access needs where possible, and encourage applicants to get in touch if they feel this might be helpful to them,” he adds.
Outside the spotlight
This cycle is seeking artists whose identities, experiences, and practices exist outside the mainstream – the “untold stories.”
“By ‘untold stories’, we mean voices and perspectives that rarely get attention—artists who don’t fit neat categories, experiment with unconventional methods, or work outside traditional art-world systems,” says Curteis.
In the Malaysian context, Sharmilla notes that many voices remain underrepresented in the arts due to factors such as ethnicity, language, location, gender and financial background.
“The arts in Malaysia is under-resourced as it is, and artists operating from these contexts face many challenges in developing their works. These are the stories we want to encourage and support – both because they need it, and because their art enriches the local cultural landscape,” she says.
Expanding access and participation
Building on lessons from the first cycle, the second cycle also introduces several enhancements.
Curteis notes that the programme will now allow the cohort more time and space to connect from the start.
“We’re building in more opportunities for everyone to come together online so there’s more room for peer networking, conversations, and informal knowledge sharing. We experimented with this last time, and it turned out to be one of the most valuable parts of the experience, so this time, we’re being much more intentional about it,” he says.
Applications are also now open to collectives, with one representative participating in workshops and mentorship.
“This shift opens exciting possibilities, especially for the final celebration event. Last time showed us how ambitious artists’ ideas can be, and how capable they are of bringing those visions to life," says Curteis.
"We initially imagined fairly simple sharings or short readings, which are still welcome, but if an idea grows or evolves over the programme, we want to support it. We’ve seen it’s possible, and this time we’re trusting the process and participants even more,” he adds.
The programme is also extending support to applicants during the application process.
“Many artists self-exclude because they think they don’t belong, or are unfamiliar with application procedures and feel overwhelmed. We are being proactive with FAQ sessions and answering questions,” says Sharmilla.
“So if you've ever wanted to work on a performance piece within a supportive space, where you get expert feedback but can also experiment, ask questions, and even fail, then Cipta Seni is for you,” she concludes.
