GEORGE TOWN, Oct. 24 -- The art industry was among those hit hardest by the 18 months of the Covid-19 pandemic and needed urgent support for survival, according to Penang Art Society president Ch'ng Huck Theng.

He said art has not only been seen as non-essential during the pandemic, it was also neglected and forgotten when the government was allocating aid and incentives to revive the economy.

"The spending on art has dropped dramatically and these past 18 months have been devastating for artists and those in the industry," he said.

Art and artists were already viewed as "unimportant" even from before, but Ch'ng said this was made worse by the pandemic.

He said the only way to bring back some life to the industry was for the governmen...