THE Penang government has earmarked a vacant plot of land in Macallum Street Ghaut to build the nine-acre Penang Art District.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the idea to build the Penang Art District was mooted a few years ago and the plot of land in Macallum Street Ghaut was considered the ideal location.
“The state, however, had to put the proposal on hold pending the proposed Bayan Lepas LRT alignment.
“It is on hold until the alignment is finalised. We are now entering the tail-end of the approval process,” he said after opening the art educator Cheah Yew Saik’s retrospective exhibition in Dewan Sri Pinang today.
The railway scheme public inspection exercise is now ongoing until Nov 19 at several locations in Penang and Putrajaya.
Chow said the plan to set up the Penang Art District was to address the limited space in Dewan Sri Pinang, which houses the Penang Art Gallery.
“The current space is not ideal. It is too small and the third floor is not accessible by lift.
“Moreover, there is no great city in this world without a great art gallery.
“It is also in line with the state’s interest to develop the arts scene in Penang,” Chow said.
Penang Art Gallery chairman Lee Khai thanked the state for its committment to provide a larger space to showcase arts and culture pieces.
“I am very happy with the announcement,” he said.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix and video by Alvie Cheng