Arts Festival Collected US$6.9 Million In Sales Since 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Bernama) -- The 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism Festival (1MCAT) had collected RM22 million (US$6.9 million) revenue from sales of arts and paintings to tourist since it was held in 2010, Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen said on Wednesday. She said the first festival in 2010 recorded 42,000 visitors and about RM14 million in art sales throughout the three-month festival from July to September. "One of the most significant turn of events during the festival was the success of the Henry Butcher Art Auction, a first in Malaysia, which recorded sales of RM1.7 million (US$535,011) in a single afternoon with 90 per cent of the works of arts sold," she said when launching 1MCAT 2012, here Wednesday. Ng said everybody did not expect that the festival would be a success when she raised the idea a couple of years ago but now, the sales exceeded everyone's expectation. She said the festival was initiated to diversify Malaysia's tourism product offerings and establish Malaysia as a reputable destination for art aficionados in the region to enjoy and acquire comtemporary art, with museum quality pieces. Also for the first time, this year the festival would see the participation of several states including Sarawak, Pahang, Penang, Johor, Melaka, Kedah and Sabah. Sarawak will organise a "Sarawak Herritage" art exhibition at the Sarawak Cultural Village in conjunction with the Rainforest World Music Festival from July 13 to 15. The Pahang Malay Artists and Designers Association and will put together a two-day event that celebrates not only fine arts but also graffiti and mural art at the Esplanade beside the Kuantan River from July 14 to 15. Ng said the ministry had also launched the "Malaysia, Your New Art Destination" travel packages for visitors. Thirteen travel packages had been developed to provide tourists with the experience of painting in a range of outdoor setting, she said. In the package, tourists would be able to visit local artist studios, attend art talks while staying in the "Kampung" under the homestay programme, she said. -- BERNAMA