About Penang Arts Council

The Penang Arts Council (PAC) was established in 1954. We are a non-profit, non-political organisation dedicated to promoting the arts in Penang and fostering understanding of Penang’s rich cultural heritage, connecting art performers and practitioners with audiences. We are operated entirely by volunteers.

With a storied history of organising music recitals, concerts, plays and grand operas, PAC has long been a driving force in bringing together local and international talent. Iconic performances like The Merry Widow and Madame Butterfly have graced our stage, captivating diverse audiences and cementing Penang’s reputation as a hub for the arts.

Our history

PAC’s early years centred on recitals and celebrity concert series, held in school halls such as the Methodist Girls’ School, St Xavier’s Institution and St George’s Girls’ School. Lawyer and music lover Datuk Cheah Inn Kheam (I.K. Cheah) is credited with bringing the council together, and in 1958 he helped form the Penang Arts Council Orchestra. The I.K. Cheah Memorial Prize, for the youngest and highest-scoring ABRSM Grade 8 distinction in Penang, is awarded in his name.

From the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, PAC staged full-scale opera, and was then described as the only company in the country producing complete opera productions. With the support of the public and sponsors including the Texchem Group of Companies and YTL, productions included The Merry Widow and The Land of Smiles, followed by Puccini’s Turandot in 2003 and Bizet’s Carmen in 2004. They opened at Dewan Sri Pinang, with some seasons continuing at Istana Budaya in Kuala Lumpur.

After a quieter period, PAC was revived in 2020 under president Joe Sidek, with the aim of becoming more inclusive of different art forms and communities across Penang. In October 2025 the council celebrated its 70th anniversary with a gala at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, featuring arias from its past productions.

What we do

• Organise and present music recitals, concerts, plays and opera
• Collaborate with members and partners on performances and exhibitions across Penang
• Support local artists, both emerging and established
• Provide educational programmes that inspire the next generation of creative minds

Our partners

We acknowledge the generous contributions and partnership of the Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy (PETACE), Yayasan Ilham, the I.K. Cheah Memorial Fund and the Rotary Club of Penang.