George Town Festival (GTF) is a month-long celebration of art, music, theatre, dance, opera and film to commemorate George Town’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage listing on 7 July, 2008. Each year since 2010, GTF transforms George Town into an exciting and unique platform for the arts, heritage and culture.

The unique appeal of the festival lies in its well-balanced blend of local cultural performance and events with cutting edge international performances. For centuries, Penang was renowned as an international commercial gateway. GTF was created to put George Town and Penang back on the world stage as an international boutique destination for art and culture. Check out some the 2013 Festival highlights: Secret Gardens of Earthly Delights: Ten sites, ten artists, ten gardens: this unique GTF2013 project is a secret waiting to be discovered! Working closely with gardeners, landscape and installation artists, and with the support of the city council and Think City’s cultural mapping grant, this astounding and mind-bending site-specific projects is GTF’s second venture into public installations that capture the spirit and living heritage known to Penang and George Town [7 June - 7 July] I Musici: The renowned Italian chamber music group I Musici presents classical excerpts from some of Italy’s famous composers through several eras, as well as a contemplative interpretation of Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. I Musici is the oldest chamber group in Italy. [7 June] Obscura: This inaugural photography festival aims to engage and exhibit photography works by both professionals and amateurs through a series of public exhibitions, talks and forums, workshops and portfolio reviews. [21 -30 June] Tropfest - Roughcut: The best brains and talents in film making will converge at Tropfest South East Asia’s first public activity in Penang, Roughcut. Tropfest SEA, which is part of the world’s largest film festival, will present this film symposium together with industry partners and professionals in a series of film conversations, focused specifically on the craft and production of storytelling.[28 June] Sutra: Celebrated Flemish/Moroccan choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui presents a dance work inspired by the skill, strength and spirituality of Buddhist Shaolin monks. He has collaborated closely with Turner Prize-winning artist Antony Gormley, who has created a design consisting of 21 wooden boxes which are repositioned to create a striking, ever changing on-stage environment. Featuring 17 monks directly from the original Shaolin Temple in China, the piece also includes a beautiful live score for piano, percussion and strings by Polish composer Szymon Brzóska. [29-30 June]