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The Food Aid Programme, driven by the Cultural Economy Development Agency (Cendana), aims to help 1, 500 artists and cultural workers across the nation. Photo: Cendana
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.
Ipoh-based artist/researcher Dr Kamal Sabran (left) will present his The Healing Art Project (Dec 18,9pm) online session at the IIAF Pre-Festival 2021. Photo: Kamal Sabran
The pandemic might have wiped out the plans for this year’s Ipoh International Art Festival (IIAF). No arts takeover of the Perak state capital, no weekend stream of visitors from other states making a trip to this well-curated festival series, which received positive reviews and an extension last year.
But the show has to go on - albeit - in a more low-key fashion with the IIAF 2021 Pre-Festival, which serves as a preview for next year’s festival.