EXCERPT: LA PROVENCE DAILY 23 DECEMBER 2018
The visit comes under a cultural partnership signed in June.
The delegation included the Chief Minister of Penang, the Mayor of Georgetown and the State Secretary of Penang
The Mayor of Arles Hervé Schiavetti and Claudie Durand, deputy mayor for cultural affairs, received a Malaysian delegation led by the Chief Minister of the State of Penang, Chow Kon Yeow. The visit to Arles came under the cultural partnership signed in June under the aegis of the Embassy of France in Malaysia between the cities of Arles and Georgetown, both on the UNESCO World Heritage site list. The delegation also included the mayor of Georgetown and the secretary of State of Penang, as well as several officials. The traditional exchange of gifts and a cocktail function were held in the Joseph Imbert hall, the Hall of Honor (which the delegation visited nonetheless) was reserved for weddings, like all Saturdays.
Cultural exchanges, artists exchanges
The State of Penang is one of the States of Malaysia, a Southeast Asian country with a population of 30 million. Georgetown, the capital, has a population of 700,000. Numerous sites testify to the colonial past of the city whose center has been added on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Called the “Pearl of the Orient”, Penang Island is located in the northeastern coast of the Malay peninsula. To visit Georgetown, the island’s main city, is to discover a cultural, ethnic and cultural melting pot marked by Chinese, Malay, Indian and also European influences. This mix of different cultures living side by side harmoniously is reflected in the cuisine and the architecture of Georgetown’s historic center. The same centers of interest can be found in the Arles area as well, even if cultures are different.
The agreement of decentralized cultural cooperation, signed in June, has already materialized in the reception of Malay artists and regular visits of Suppiah Bharathi, specializing in Capacity Building projects. In 2019, an artist from Arles will be welcomed for a residency in Penang. These exchanges will continue and strengthen throughout the years.