Grants and Commercial Funding for Arts and Digital Creative Community in Penang

Overview

Access to funding is one of the most critical challenges faced by creative entrepreneurs. This panel brings together experts and practitioners to unpack the many financial avenues available for creative enterprises in Penang. From government grants and public schemes to private loans, angel investors, venture capital, philanthropic funding, and even crowdfunding, the session will break down what each option offers, who it's best suited for, and how to get started. Panelists will share not only funding mechanisms but also the strategies and mindset needed to attract support, manage resources, and build sustainable businesses. Whether you're just starting or looking to scale, this session provides a roadmap to understanding and navigating the financial landscape of Penang’s creative economy.

As part of our week-long programme, each day features two key parts:

1. Expert Panel Sessions – held every evening from 8:00 PM, bringing together leading voices to discuss critical topics shaping Penang’s creative industries.
2. Co-Creation in Our Living Lab – taking place daily from 3:30 PM at Digital Penang, where the public and stakeholders are invited to take part in shaping ideas, testing prototypes, and co-developing strategies to support Penang’s creative economy.

Who Should Join

This panel is ideal for creative founders, entrepreneurs, freelancers, arts administrators, fundraisers, and anyone interested in securing financial support for creative initiatives or building viable business models within the creative sector.

Panel Members

Moderator

Mr Joe Sidek (Festival Director, Penang's George Town Festival 2010 -2017) (TBC)

Panel

• Mr. Kevin Aziz Lee (Creative Director, Mad Hatters Studios)
• Ms. Shahrizan Mohd Sharif (Head of Digital Creative Content, MDEC)

Other Panel Sessions

In addition to this session, we have a series of panel discussions held each evening, each one built around a daily theme highlighting a different aspect of Penang’s creative sector.

  You may register for multiple sessions by visiting our main event profile.  

About Penang Creative Industries Living Lab

The Living Lab will take place in Digital Penang, featuring a series of panel discussions, public dialogues, and co-creation activities aimed at exploring practical strategies for developing Penang’s creative industries. Each day of the Living Lab includes two main components: 

1. Co-Creation in Our Living Lab (Daily from 3:30 PM) -  Explore a hands-on innovation space where creative start-ups and entrepreneurs showcase their prototypes. Test ideas, give feedback, and help shape better solutions. This is co-creation in action — your input makes a real difference.
2. Panel Sessions (Daily from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM) - Join evening panels featuring local creative experts discussing key topics shaping Penang’s creative economy.

Using a living lab methodology, PLLACE brings together creative practitioners, government agencies, researchers, and citizens to collaboratively design new solutions, training concepts, and policy ideas in real-world settings. This initiative hopes to contribute to Penang’s long-term creative economy goals by addressing current challenges while encouraging sustainable, inclusive growth. 

About PLLACE Research

The Penang Living Lab for Advancing the Creative Economy (PLLACE) is a research-driven initiative focused on strengthening Penang’s creative sector through co-creation, policy development, and collaborative innovation. Funded by the British Academy (UK), PLLACE is jointly carried out by researchers from Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Greenwich, Universiti Sains Malaysia, and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman. 

Photography & Videography Notice

Please note that this is a public event. Photography and videography may be conducted throughout the event for documentation and promotional purposes. By entering the event space, you acknowledge and agree that your image may be captured in photos and videos, and that these materials may be used in future promotional and marketing content related to the event or its organisers.