What We Do
Community-based arts and culture education
Arts-ED is a non-profit organisation (NPO) based in Penang, Malaysia. The organisation’s ethos is to provide innovative community-based arts and culture education in rural and urban communities. Our programmes focus on the theme of arts, culture and heritage and utilise creative educational approaches that encourage learning around real issues.
Our approach in running these programmes includes community consultation, cultural mapping, and participatory research. The outcomes crystallise in the form of cultural events and culture-related educational materials. Arts-ED works in collaboration with local institutions, arts educators, artists, cultural activists and community associations. Our innovative approach has been emulated by individuals and organisations in Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia.
A student explains her illustrated typography design based on waste management at Chowrasta Market during an on-site exhibition.
Arts-ED started as an informal group in 1999 and registered formally in 2007. Since its inception in 1999, Arts-ED has worked with at least 16,000 young people in Penang. Some of the communities we have worked with include the urban historical city of George Town, the agricultural prefecture of Balik Pulau and an urban public housing area in Sungai Pinang.