During the George Town Festivals (GTFs) Joe Sidek, the nonpareil art advocate, can be spotted hurrying all over the heritage city dressed in his favoured traditional Malay costume: sarong, Baju Melayu and songkok. He moves tirelessly from venue to venue, speaking passionately at formal events and igniting random conversations at every corner.

Helming its 7th edition, the GTF director revels in human possibilities, stretching the imagination and breaking untold boundaries. “I have finally found a reason for the Festival – knowledge, happiness and inspiration. My journey has become more human. It’s far more important than art for me now – how do I make George Town Festival useful and relevant.”

As the month-long GTF comes to an end this weekend, Joe Sidek ponders:

On finding his purpose
Finally, this year he’s realised why he loves it.

“I love what it does to people, how it affects peoples’ lives and how it changed my life,” he declares. “I didn’t realise the platform’s importance for artists who get the chance to paint, audiences who get to see their desires, or even giving my gardener’s unemployed top graduate son a job. This festival has given me a chance to be useful.”

“Take this year’s Connecting The Lights, where expert panelists discussed the life and times of prominent British-era personalities – Francis Light, William Light and the intriguing Martina Rozells,” Joe points out. “Who is this woman, Rozells? Next year I’m commissioning a play to explore this connection to us. GTF offers me a journey to learning and experiencing.”

On leaving it to the universe
Not clever enough to carefully curate, he claims but, just like an eager little boy, he shares what he stumbles upon.

“The universe sends me the most amazing people and notions, from great staff to amazing ideas. I was in Jakarta, invited by ASEAN and, as people talked, I thought: “Let’s do an ASEAN festival in 2018 to showcase the best of ASEAN.” He mentions fashion designer Monique Lhuillier from Manila, Cambodian filmmaker Rithy Panh and Malaysian Yuna. “If we bring the best of Southeast Asia to New York, which is our goal post, why shouldn’t people want to see it? The ideas just come, always.”

On benefitting humanity
Humans make art. That is why he believes in Arts for Humanity. To make art accessible to all, as well as nurture new talent. And to help those in need.

“Other than the USD1 pledge per person that I’m hoping will fund it, I believe in the AB+C Charity Arts Exhibition.” Artworks are donated by artists who earn 60% of the sale proceeds. The remaining 40% goes to children with cancer at the Children’s Cancer Ward at Penang General Hospital. Joe remarks: “I met a family whose one-year-old child has cancer. The poor mum and dad have taken time off work to care for their child. And we worry about art. Where are our priorities?”

On paying respect
He wants to pay respect to the past and to continue to learn about where everyone comes from.

“I heard this group singing indigenous songs (which resulted in this year’s opening act, Svara Bhumi, Songs of the Earth) and I was so moved. Here in Malaysia no one can tell me how many indigenous groups we have.” He declares: “We are so disrespectful, we talk about pendatang and all that we don’t know anything about. I want to share this land before us with everyone. Who was here before, I don’t know. But let’s pay respect to them, to the land we have. No politics necessary.”

On reflecting with people
Other than with his favourite tipple at the end of the day, he finds intimate meetings of minds the best way to unwind.

“I don’t do well at social dos but I have to do that for work. Instead, it’s with people that I relax. I think people are energy. I get a real kick with people around me and it could be anyone, and everyone. Just real, honest, down-to-earth people.”

On dispensing with fear
He has dispensed with fear in his life, leaving him unperturbed about not being the best.

“Because I’m fearless, I don’t worry about not being successful. I don’t worry about not being the best. A lot of people don’t do things because they are afraid of being judged. I just want to do things. I feel excited and I want to learn. So what if it’s not the world’s best festival? That’s ok. The best is always yet to come, because there are so many things I still need to do. The journey is not finished.”

www.georgetownfestival.com