GEORGE TOWN – Taking cognisance of the acute problem of retaining talent in the local creative sector, Penang has pledged to look into various platforms for its youth to gain professional opportunities and to thrive in the industry.
State exco for youth and sports Soon Lip Chee said it is important to plug the worrying outflow of talents choosing to pursue their vocations elsewhere.
Many are also abandoning their careers in the creative field altogether due to a lack of opportunities.
“We want to retain their talents instead of losing them elsewhere. We want them to be part of the state’s development, just like their parents or grandparents before,” he said.
“More importantly, we hope that when they are self-fulfilled, we could use their talents in developing the state in such that they can contribute back to Penang,” Soon said at a press conference here today.
Among the new platforms being explored locally are physical sports, e-sports, music, academic work, social activism, e-commerce and culinary arts.
Each platform would allow self-development to flourish among the young, he said.
“And each youth must grab such opportunities that we have created. There are diverse platforms for them to tap into and excel in. Penang wants them.”
Soon said this before kicking off the promotion of a musical open-mic event, held in collaboration with the gig organiser Soundmaker Studio.
The event aims to encourage musically inclined youngsters to perform. It will be held at 8.30pm on February 12 at the Soundmaker Studio’s premises at Bishop Street here.
“Music nurtures self-confidence among its performers, and we want our young to be infused with high confidence in living their lives,” Soon said.
Soon expressed his hope that such sessions will be held on a larger scale to meet the anticipated demand, seeing that many youth feel trapped due to the lockdowns brought about by the ongoing pandemic.
“From an initial 80 participants and four groups of performers, we can increase the sessions to accommodate hundreds more, if there is a following,” he said.
Penang Youth Development Council general manager Gwee Sai Ling said that such events would also help to unearth “hidden talents,” which the state has in abundance.
Participants can access the open mic event online on PWDC’s website or through its social media links. – The Vibes, January 27, 2022
