KUALA LUMPUR – Professionals in the creative industry, one of the sectors hit hardest by the Covid-19 pandemic period, are craving for much-needed respite and stimulus from Budget 2021.
The players in careers like music, performing arts, traditional arts and crafts, arthouse films and literature hope to be offered government grants and loans, marketing and promotional support, and job creation initiatives.
These are the findings from a poll done by government investment arm MyCreative Ventures Sdn Bhd, involving 365 respondents comprising creative practitioners and businesses.
“This is very much reflected in the fact that 70% of respondents ranked government grants and loans as number one on their wish-list.
“Also high on the agenda was the request for help with marketing and promotions with 42.2% (polling for), as well as job creation with 39.5% listing it among their top priorities,” the agency said in a statement.
MyCreative is tasked by Putrajaya to spur Malaysia’s creative industry via strategic and innovative funding through equity or debt investments.
Other government measures that the majority of respondents rated as “very important” include:
> making the creative, arts and cultural sectors priority sectors in Malaysia’s Covid-19 recovery plan (81% for);
> ensuring that the support to cultural organisations reaches artists and other creative professionals that are self-employed (80.8%);
> fostering a more sustainable creative economy in view of developing careers and businesses (80.1%).
Another suggestion from respondents was for the authorities to “focus on arts in education to cultivate audiences and talents for the creative ecosystem.”
The survival of the industry’s talent pool, remarked MyCreative chairman Mohd Naguib Razak, and its transformation or adaptation to the new normal is paramount.
However, he said these are hopefully achieved with financial prudence and sustainability in mind as well.
“We also hope that the current Penjana Plan for the Creative Industries can be extended further, especially for sectors where we have seen strong numbers applying and strong proposals,”
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had announced an allocation of RM225 million for Penjana in June. -- The Vibes, November 6, 2020.
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