Arts in the Community - Gempak 100

Sungai Pinang Kita🤝

In November 2023, we resumed the Gempak 100 program by taking the children from Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) Jalan Sungai to explore the community of Sungai Pinang.

In collaboration with Sekolah Kebangsaan Tan Sri P. Ramlee, we conducted two creative workshops for the PPR Jalan Sungai children and the students of SK Tan Sri P. Ramlee.

Over 11 days, 36 young participants aged 10-14 from SK Tan Sri P. Ramlee and PPR Jalan Sungai:

Mapped the area surrounding SK Tan Sri P. Ramlee
Interviewed and observed food preparation by local hawkers near the school
Spoke with vendors and visitors at Hin Bus Depot
Learned creative movement and visual arts skills and techniques
Explored the value of handmade food versus machine-prepared food, and the transformation of Hin Bus Depot from a bus depot into a creative community hub

Their hard work culminated in two creative arts pieces, namely:

Rasa Sungai Pinang Kita: focusing on the “taste” of Sungai Pinang where the children created two movement pieces, “Coffee Movement” and “Roti Canai Movement,” inspired by the movements made by the food hawkers.

Hin Bus in a Box: exploring the historical timeline of Hin Bus Depot where One visual art exposition depicting the timeline of Hin Bus Depot from the past to the present and future

Watch this video to discover more about the workshops:

The Gempak 100: Sungai Pinang Kita is supported by Penang Education Council (PEC), George Town World Heritage Incorporation (GTWHI) and SK Tan Sri P. Ramlee.

Nur. Light. 光 🌟

In 2023, we revitalised the annual tradition of making giant star lanterns at the PPR flat Jalan Sungai through the GEMPAK 100 ‘Nur. Light. 光’.

Over seven weeks and 9 workshop sessions, more than 40 participants, including children aged 7 to 15 and adult residents, worked together with Arts-ED facilitators to craft star lanterns and explore the significance of light. Their efforts culminated in a final Lantern Light Up night on April 18, attended by YB Lim Siew Khim, state assemblywoman for Sungai Pinang and approximately 50 community members. A total of 150-star lanterns were crafted by the children and were dedicated with a special personalised message to their community members.

This initiative also encouraged the PPR flat children to explore the meaning of light in their community by interviewing older residents and understanding the historical and symbolic meanings associated with it.

The ‘Nur. Light. 光’ is supported by Penang Education Council (PEC) and Pertubuhan Komuniti Penduduk Jalan Sungai (PKPJS)

Watch this video to learn more about GEMPAK 100 ‘Nur. Light. 光’🌟

Gempak 100@PPR Jalan Sungai🍃

In 2022, we facilitate youths aged between 8 - 15 years old from Flat Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR), Jalan Sungai, George Town, Penang, to explore and engage with their surrounding environment through creative art workshops;

Photography, Creative Movement, and Contemporary Shadow Play.

The workshops were conducted for 5 months starting January to May 2022, through weekly engagement and culminated in a final showcase presentation to the community. During the workshop sessions, the young participants embarked on the creative journey to map, analyse, compose, and express their own and the community’s stories through various art forms.

10 Penang-based young artists and cultural workers worked alongside four mentors in planning and facilitating the workshops. This program served as a practical platform for field application by young artists/cultural workers as part of their mentorship.

Project objectives:

To facilitate the self-expression of youths from a socially marginalized group through the arts.
To help these youths develop their critical and analytical skills on issues and challenges they face within their living environment
To inspire and mobilize young people to help resolve community issues by exploring solutions through creative arts