2008 Call for Applications (Deadline 31 Aug 2008)
The Krishen Jit ASTRO Fund has been created by ASTRO to encourage and support creative work in Malaysia. One of the main objectives of Krishen’s pioneering work was celebrating original Malaysian creativity in as varied and alternative ways as possible in all the areas of the arts. His groundbreaking theatre practice straddled and brought together a wide range of contrasting spheres, producing projects that were inter-disciplinary, multi-cultural, multi-lingual and experimental. Negotiating between academia and practice, tradition and contemporary pop culture, Hollywood and Bollywood, the mainstream and the marginalized, Krishen’s work articulated a Malaysian identity that was ever evolving and encouraged practitioners and audiences to reflect on their lives and societies. This is the spirit of the Krishen Jit ASTRO Fund.In 2006, the Fund received 80 applications. The final 3 grantees were:
o Au Sow Yee – for a film installation and performance.
o Sharon Chin – for research and an interactive installation and exhibition of new work concerning libraries and banned books.
o Dr. Ray Langenbach – for his Malaysian Performance Video Archives Project, a project to preserve Malaysian performance documentation.
In 2007, the Fund received 27 applications. The final 4 grantees were:
o Amir Muhammad – towards a film Punggok Rindukan Bulan.
o Hardesh Singh and CH Loh – towards the first Malaysian CD anthology.
o Lim Kok Yoong – towards LAMU-Let Arts Move You, visual arts in commuter trains and train stations.
o Shahili Abdan (aka Nam Ron) – for research in Southern Thailand for theatre script.
Once again, in 2008, the fund will give out grants ranging from RM5,000 to RM20,000 for :
- Training
- Workshops
- Attachments/residencies
- Experimental productions
- Research and documentation
- Writing
- Creating new work in music, dance, theatre, writing, film, visual/performance art
- Others
Examples include, but are not limited to:
– Artist A might want to study under well known Indonesian theatre director Putu Wijaya. Artist A could apply to be attached to a production directed by Putu Wijaya for a 4-6 week period. This would give artist A insights and learning on methods of this director.
– Artist B might want to do research on a subject for purposes of writing a new script. Artist B could apply to do this research and write the script.
– Artist C could apply to direct and mount an experimental workshop or production.
– Artist D could apply to attend a training workshop within or outside of Malaysia.
– Attachments and internships.
The Krishen Jit ASTRO Fund will try to be inclusive, but work sited in Malaysia will be given preference. All arts practitioners in Malaysia are eligible to apply. The fund will be managed by Five Arts Centre and ASTRO.
The selection panel for awarding the grants shall comprise :
- Dato’ Norliza Rofli – Director, Department of Culture and Arts, Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Malaysia
- Har Kok Kit – Head of Production Services, ASTRO
- Leow Puay Tin – Co-head, Department of Media and Performance, Sunway University College.
- Ravi Navaratnam – Five Arts Centre
- Mac Chan – Five Arts Centre
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Application Deadline: 31 August 2008.