Marathon of three arts festivals in 10 days

THE public and visitors to Penang can look forward to a new attraction with the inaugural launch of the In-between Arts Festival (IbAF) this month.

IbAF director Jasmine Low said the festival would showcase three days of music, fashion and arts in Gurney Drive, Bangkok Lane and Pulau Tikus.

Music performances, poetry, art, photography, T-shirt design, songwriting and pole dancing workshops and a street party are among the activities lined up.

Most of the events are free except for the workshops and finale show.

“Essentially, the festival provides a platform to promote upcoming talents.

“Bihzhu, a soulful singer and songwriter who released her first album ‘Nightingale Tales’ recently, will be among the performers,” she said.

Penang Global Tourism mana­ging director Ooi Geok Ling said the idea for the IbAF came about because there was a gap in between the 2nd George Town Literary Festival in the heritage city and the 9th Penang Island Jazz Festival in Batu Ferringhi.

“Even the venue of the festival is in between the two other festivals as it will be held mainly in Gurney Drive.

“Since it’s the school holidays, we thought we’d give holidaymakers an extra treat with these three festivals in a span of 10 days,” she said.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the festivals would enhance the state’s effort to become an international and intelligent city.

“A vibrant culture is a very important criteria if we are to succeed,” he said.

They were speaking at a press conference in Komtar on Tuesday.

The dates of the events are Nov 23-25 (Literary Festival), Nov 26-28 (IbAF) and Nov 29-Dec 2 (Jazz Festival).

Admission is free for the Literary Festival.

National Laureate A. Samad Said and Penangite Tan Twan Eng, the first Malaysian to be shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction, will be present.

Among the highlights of the Jazz Festival are performances by Butterscotch (the singer beatboxer who made it to the hugely popular ‘America’s Got Talent’ finals) and award-winning guitarist Martin Taylor.

Tickets for the Jazz Festival are RM68 per night.

For details, e-mail [e-mail] or log on to gtlfestival.blogspot.com or penangjazz.com or in-betweenartsfest on Facebook.