Workshop 101 Series 

Workshop 101 Series: Art Exhibition Production
Showing Artworks in their Best Light

Facilitator: Tan Wah Chew (Penang, Malaysia)
Dates: Wednesday 25 June 2025, 10am – 6pm
Venue: Blank Canvas, Argus Lane

Registration Link: Click Here

 

Workshop 101 Series: Art Writing
Pitch Perfect – Writing for Art Magazines

Facilitator: Hung Duong (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
Dates: Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 July 2025, 10am – 5pm
Venue: The Whiteaways Arcade, Beach Street & Blank Canvas, Argus Lane

Registration Link: Click Here

 

⬇ Scroll down to learn more about the workshops

Building Skills for Penang’s Art Ecosystem

Workshop 101 Series is a pilot initiative by Blank Canvas aimed at building the essential skills to help develop Penang’s art ecosystem. It takes place in the lead-up to this year’s George Town Festival as part of the pre-festival programme.

If you are interested in creating a sustainable career in the visual arts industry, this new series of workshops aims to give you the rare opportunity to learn from skilled practitioners.

This first edition of Workshop 101 Series focuses on two crucial aspects of the art industry:
• Art Exhibition Production (by Tan Wah Chew)
• Art Writing (by Hung Duong)

Designed to give a mix of theoretical and practical skills, workshops run across one or two full days. Registration is open to all.

Penang’s art community is incredibly vibrant and active, but still in the process of developing and emerging. Workshop 101 Series aspires to equip you with the vital skills to help build the scene and contribute to an ever more dynamic and professional arts ecosystem.

Registration Link: Click Here

Even the greatest masterpiece needs to be properly displayed to have its full impact. In an emerging art scene such as Penang, quality exhibition production can make the difference between a promising artist being recognised or being overlooked.

This workshop will introduce you to the skills to ensure that you can help to produce art exhibitions which show works at their best and give audiences the best viewing experience.

We will learn about concept and spatial design, exploring how to adapt a venue, modify a space and play with lighting to suit the characteristics of an artwork and the context of an artist. We will also focus on technical execution, covering exhibit elevation planning, artwork hanging methods, and lighting demonstrations, before giving you the chance to engage in hands-on exercises using basic tools in a real white-cube gallery environment.

Whether you are new to the field or have production experience in other areas, this workshop will help give you the skills to create the best experience for both artworks and audiences.

Facilitator – Tan Wah Chew

Tan Wah Chew, born in 1979, is a graphic designer and production manager based in Penang. Besides his commercial projects, he also works on collaborative arts and culture projects related to art exhibitions, Penang’s cultural heritage, and environmental issues. He has handled exhibition design and production management for numerous projects in Penang and overseas, including the Young Arts Programme for George Town Festival 2024, Angin Berlabuh – Asian Documentary Comics and The Cycle at Hin Bus Depot, and De-Colonization in the 21st Century at ACS Institute 2023, Taiwan.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twchew

Photo Credit: Thum Chia Chieh

Registration Link: Click Here

Have you ever encountered an artwork that keeps drawing you back?

Have you met an artist whose practice intrigues and enchants you?

Have you ever felt so moved by an exhibition that now you want to write about it, beyond a simple Instagram post? You want to explore what it really makes you feel, and share this joy, anguish, or excitement with the world.

This two-day workshop aims to help you develop the skills to transform this desire into accomplished art writing. It will explore different forms of art writing, such as reviews, profiles, interviews and analysis, and practise how to convey your personal perspective while still focusing on the artist and artworks.

It will also explore the practical side of how to pitch your articles to local or international art magazines. How can you formulate the perfect pitch? We will introduce you to the art publication landscape, from getting connected to magazines and publishing platforms to dealing with gruelling editorial processes.

Whatever your reasons for wanting to share your love of art with the world, this workshop will help you develop your skills as an art writer and take you closer to seeing your work published.

Facilitator – Hung Duong

Hung Duong is an independent writer, translator, and curator whose criticism on Southeast Asian contemporary art spans a diverse spectrum of forms and themes, addressing sociopolitical issues, ecological histories, and material transformation. His writing has appeared in both regional and international magazines such as Artforum, frieze, ArtAsiaPacific, and Art & Market. His recent publications include artwork descriptions for the guidebook of Sharjah Biennial 16: To Carry, translations of artists’ writings in ‘The Modern in Southeast Asian Art: A Reader’ (published by National Gallery Singapore) and a hybrid essay on artist Trương Công Tùng for Post, the online journal of the Museum of Modern Art, New York. His website sea-through.net serves as a digital platform featuring artists and events across Southeast Asia, along with his personal projects.

Website: https://sea-through.net/

Photo Credit: Peerapat Wimolrangkarat (Add)

ABOUT The Collaborator

George Town Festival

First held in 2010, George Town Festival is an annual festival held in Penang, Malaysia in honour of George Town’s inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. The annual festival celebrates the state’s diverse arts and culture scene encompassing dance, music, theatre, visual art, film, photography and more. Generally held in historic buildings, back alleys, theatres and other unique spots in the city, the annual festival has grown into a prominent event connecting festival-goers with local and international creatives.

Website: https://www.georgetownfestival.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GeorgeTownFestival