KUALA LUMPUR, 31 July 2025 – An academic programme titled Contemporary Young Talent Discourse (BMS29): Visual Art Royalty Awareness Forum was successfully held at the Auditorium of the National Visual Arts Development Board (LPSVN).
The programme was jointly organised by the Department of Fine Arts, Faculty of Art & Design, UiTM Perak Branch, LPSVN, and Percha Art Space, with the attendance of 230 participants comprising students from art institutions, professional artists, art collectors, representatives of relevant organisations, and legal practitioners. This forum served as an important platform to highlight the issue of Resale Royalty Rights (RRR) in the domestic visual art industry.
The highlight of the programme was the discourse session moderated by Dr. Ishak Ramli, Senior Lecturer at UiTM Perak Branch, featuring five distinguished guest panellists with extensive experience in visual arts, law, and copyright management:
• Assoc. Prof. Awang Damit Ahmad (Visual Artist)
• Mr. Pakhruddin Sulaiman (Visual Art Collector)
• Mr. Amerrudin Ahmad (Director General of LPSVN)
• Mr. Mohamad Rahimi Arafpin (Assistant Director of MyIPO)
• Mr. Alfa Booty Kesuma (Member of the Board of Directors of RPM)
The discourse discussed various important aspects of RRR, including implementation challenges, the role of institutions, and the need to establish a legal framework that supports artists' rights. The session was conducted interactively, with a Q&A segment allowing attendees to raise questions about practical aspects, legal frameworks, and the panellists' real-world experiences.
As a token of appreciation, Ms. Suhaila Hashim, Managing Director of Percha Art Space, presented souvenirs to all guest panellists and the moderator. The event concluded with a group photo session as documentation and a symbolic celebration of the programme's success. Overall, the BMS29 Discourse had a significant impact in enhancing participants' understanding of visual art royalty rights and the importance of copyright protection in a rapidly growing art market.
The programme also opened avenues for discussion towards more inclusive policy-making and greater awareness of the need for collaboration between artists, academic institutions, legislative bodies, and government agencies. With its successful organisation, the BMS29 Discourse achieved its objective as a platform for open dialogue and academic discourse that strengthens Malaysia's visual art ecosystem towards a more equitable, sustainable, and progressive future.