The Krishen Jit Astro Fund 2009
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.
The fund gives 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 Information, Communication and Culture, Malaysia).
- A representative from ASTRO.
- Leow Puay Tin (Head, Department of Performance & Media, Sunway University College).
- Ravi Navaratnam (Five Arts Centre).
- Mac Chan (Five Arts Centre).
Past Grantees
In 2006, the Fund received 80 applications. The 3 grantees were:
- Au Sow Yee for 'The 4th Dimension: Mapping The Imaginary Cinema', a film installation and performance.
- Sharon Chin for 'Sensors: Banned Books & Other Monsters', an interactive installation and exhibition.
- Dr. Ray Langenbach – for 'Malaysian Performance Video Archives Project'.
In 2007, the Fund received 27 applications. The 3 grantees were:
- Amir Muhammad for the film 'Punggok Rindukan Bulan'.
- Hardesh Singh and CH Loh for the CD 'Faith Hope Chaos: Malaysian Contemporary Music Vol. 1' anthology.
- Lim Kok Yoong for 'Let Arts Move You', an exhibition and engaged arts project in commuter trains and train stations.
In 2008, the Fund received 47 applications. The 4 grantees were:
- Carolyn Lau for 'The Light Show' exhibition.
- Chris Chong for the film 'Karaoke'.
- Fahmi Reza for the 'Projek Hari Hartal' documentation project.
- FINDARS collective for 'The Rain Project', a series of monthly experimental arts presentations.
Application Procedure
Download the application here: Krishen Jit ASTRO Fund 2009 application (Word) / (PDF).
Deadline for applications is 31 August 2009.
Please mail all applications to:
Five Arts Centre
27 & 27A Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 7,
Taman Tun Dr Ismail,
60000 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
Or email to: fiveartscentre@gmail.com
