Two years on from George Town’s listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the newly established George Town World Heritage Office is planning a revamped and extended annual bash to celebrate the honour. Although acclaimed international festivals can brag about attracting tourists by the millions, the George Town Festival is set on winning the hearts and minds of Penangites first.
Buoyed by the 2009 celebrations, the George Town World Heritage Office (GTWHO) is planning a month-long series of events collectively known as the George Town Festival in close partnership with the public and private sectors, institutions and local chambers of commerce. As GTWHO’s general manager, Maimunah Mohd Sharif, observed, “There were just too many events to pack into a one-day celebration as in 2009. It makes much more sense to spread our celebrations over the month of July – the actual date of the inscription was July 7 – and to include existing festivals and events as part of the programme.
“It might seem very ambitious to jump from a one-day celebration to a month-long event but if we don’t start now, when will we start?” The ambitious programme centred on the theme “Community, Culture, Creativity” includes art exhibitions, concerts, theatre, dance, photography, public lectures, film screenings, fashion shows and, of course, food.
