Penang House of Music announces closure, leaving a void in Malaysian music heritage
Financial issues and the lack of institutional backing have forced the Penang House of Music, based in the heart of George Town, to announce its closure after more than seven years.

"It is with heavy hearts that we announce that Penang House of Music will be shutting its doors for good," read a statement from the Penang House of Music as it took to social media this evening to break the news.

"It’s been a wonderful seven-and-a-half years and we are proud of this labour of love, but alas, just passion alone isn’t enough sometimes, and the lack of financial and institutional support has made it a little too difficult to continue.

"As we tidy up loose ends, please be patient with us and we urge you to come visit us one last time and help us celebrate our rich music legacy that deserves its place in history," the statement added.

Sources indicate that it could shut as early as the end of February.

Since it was launched in November 2016 at the Komtar building in George Town, the Penang House of Music has grown immensely into its role as a custodian of the rich musical heritage of Penang and beyond.

In blurring the boundaries between museum and community space, it has become a cultural and musical haven for both tourists and locals alike.

The museum started out as part of the Penang Musical Heritage Project, in line with the Penang state government's goal of creating a city dedicated to heritage and creative arts.

To get the project running in 2016, PBA Holdings Berhad, the owner of Penang's water supply firm Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang (PBAPP), set aside a grant of RM3mil (a three-year disbursement) for the Penang House of Music.

Led by its director Paul Augustin and a small team (of researchers, guides, music enthusiasts and volunteers), the Penang House of Music - despite the uncertainties it faced after the pandemic - has continued to play an integral part in highlighting the importance of music heritage in Malaysia, and how it relates to people, everyday stories and cultural legacies.

"We try to recreate the atmosphere and lifestyles of different periods in our exhibits because music is more than just melody. It’s a communication of feelings, thoughts and actions that reflect what life was like at a given time. This is our history and heritage.

“Every little item, be it a document, instrument or object, has a story to tell. It’s like opening a window and peering into the past,” said Augustin in an interview with The Star in September 2021.

Through exhibitions, research work, digital archiving, documentaries, dialogue sessions, educational activities and live performances, the Penang House of Music meticulously preserved and showcased the (jazz to pop) music scene and diverse musical traditions (Chinese opera to Teochew puppets) that have flourished in Penang, while also dedicating resources to spotlight Penang's forgotten music personalities from the past.

While the music story of Penang was the starting point, with years of documentation and archival work undertaken, the Penang House of Music's ongoing mission in recent years has also seen it venturing into the deeper history and shared connections within the Malaysian, regional and international music scenes.

The Penang House of Music has been approached for comment.


Arts,Penang House of Music,closure,music,heritage,history
Since it was launched in November 2016, Penang House of Music has grown immensely into its role as a custodian of the rich musical heritage of Penang and beyond