PUTRAJAYA: The National Arts Awards (ASN), the highest recognition for practitioners, contributors, and artistes in Malaysia, will be resumed in 2024 with nominations opening on Dec 18, according to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MoTAC).
The ASN is the Malaysian government’s highest award for individuals who have demonstrated excellence and outstanding contributions in various artistic fields, including music, dance, acting, crafts, and visual arts.
MoTAC in a statement yesterday said that the revival of ASN 2024 is a step in acknowledging the Malaysian government’s, especially MoTAC’s, concern for recognising the services, contributions, and achievements of arts practitioners who play a vital role in shaping Madani society.
The ASN has been held for eight editions in 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, and its last edition in 2009.
The highest honour through the ASN is the National Artiste Award, given to a single recipient in each edition.
For the ASN 2024 edition, MoTAC said that nominations are open for three categories: the National Artiste Award (individual recipient), the Cultural Arts Awards, and the Additional Award.
The Cultural Arts Awards will involve five recipients for Music, Dance, Drama, Crafts, and Visual Arts categories.
The Additional Award category will have three recipients for the Supporter of the Arts (Media/Corporate/NGO) Award, according to MoTAC.
“MoTAC welcomes nominations from industry players, contributors, and artistes in the fields of music, dance, drama, crafts, and visual arts for ASN 2024,” it said.
Winners will be presented their prizes at a prestigious event on November 13, 2024.
Recipients of ASN 2024 will receive a cash reward of RM60,000.00, a set of national attire, an award certificate, a trophy, publications related to the recipient, and the opportunity to be a guest artiste for MoTAC.
Winners will also receive incentives for creating works, first-class medical treatment in government hospitals, and access to government-owned public transportation facilities, the ministry said.
ASN 2024 nominations will be open from December 18, 2023 (Monday) to February 18, 2024 (Sunday). For nomination criteria and more information about ASN 2024, please visit http://www.motac.gov.my.
Some past recipients of the National Artiste Award include Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Jins Shamsudin (Acting & Filmmaking), Tan Sri Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Nawab (Music), Abdul Rahman Abu Bakar (Traditional Theatre), Datuk Syed Alwi Syed Hassan (Theatre), and Khatijah Awang (Makyung Theatre).
Also honoured with the same award were Wan Su Othman (Visual Arts Carving), Datuk Syed Ahmad Syed Jamal (Visual Arts Painting), and Hamzah Awang Amat (Traditional Wayang Kulit). — BERNAMA
