RESEARCH UNIT

Penang State Museum and Art Gallery resource centre located at No.57, Jalan Macalister, 10400 Penang, responsible in providing information by supply reference and reading materials. This service is provided exclusively for employees and for the public, especially students and researchers. Penang State Museum resource centre owns a variety of magazines and newspapers which are suitable to be used as additional reference. Staff are available to help locate relevant collections and materials, or to direct your question to the appropriate department. There is a collection of 20,000 which includes the following materials:

• Historical books
• Monographs
• Seminar / Paper / Conference / Symposium / Thesis
• Act
• Government Publications / Annual Report
• Newspaper cutting
• Serials
• Exhibition Catalogues
• Pamphlet files
• Artists’ books

Apart from being a point of reference and information retrieval, the resource centre of Penang State Museum and Art Gallery also provides services such as photocopy service, sales of Museum and Art Gallery Publications (books, journal, VCD and DVD).

For further information and enquiries, kindly contact danial@penangmuseum.gov.my / naim@penangmuseum.gov.my .

Operation hours: Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm
(Closed on Weekends and Public Holidays)

Visitor Note: Resource Center is temporarily closed. Please contact the listed officer for any information.

Museum Team

The Penang State Museum situated in Farquhar Street has been moved temporarily to Sri Penang Hall as the original site is currently under restoration. The museum department currently consists of four (4) staffs, a curator, an assistant curator and two (2) museum assistants. Museum department is responsible to collect, study, preserve and display national artefacts and works of culture. 

Currently, conservation actitivties are being carried out by the museum department and there are the conservation of Francis Light Statue and also the historical art collection by Robert Smith. The museum department plays a role in collecting and managing the artefacts and also the collection paintings of the museum. Some paintings are either donated as gifts or purchased from all over Penang. The museum houses all these collection of paintings and ensures classification is done in a systematic order. 

One of our efforts in digitizing all our existing collection system is the adoption and implementation of Collection Management Systems (CMS).CMS is a software system that enables museums to arrange and manage the collection inventory system via online. This system is currently being used by museums and libraries across the world.

Apart from that, the museum department has the core interest to conduct research studies with regards to history, culture and artefacts in order to preserve our state heritage. Through publications and good governance, the museum department has instill the love and appreciation of heritage and culture among its people.  

Gallery Team

Penang State Art Gallery is one of the departments under the Penang State Museum Board. Established in 1965, the main role and function of the Penang State Art Gallery (PSAG) is to collect, study and preserve the state, country and international arts and culture. Apart from that, PSAG also venue to showcase the artworks of both local or international artist and even groups or societies. It is now among the most active art galleries in Malaysia with as many as 12 to 15 contemporary exhibitions annually.

Penang State Art Gallery previously was located at Building of Penang State Museum, Lebuh Farquhar. Then, it moves to Dewan Sri Pinang from year 1994 until now. There are two galleries which displays the PSAG Permanent Collection such as painting, watercolor, sculptures, photography, ceramics, prints and other various media at the Ground Floor Gallery. Furthermore, Contemporary Gallery at third floor of Dewan Sri Pinang reserved for any individuals, groups or societies who interested to exhibit their arts.

The gallery at ground floor is also function as contemporary gallery which displays the work of visual arts according to the specific themes which is in our event calendar of the exhibition and the activities have been determined. Various activities are undertaken such as forums, art talks, workshops and competition, and more throughout the year. No admission fee is charge for both galleries.

Since it’s first exhibition in 1965, PSAG has indeed grown into an important exhibition space not only for Penang artist but also for artist from all over Malaysia. PSAG is also driven in other ways of engaging the public for them to enjoy and share arts. With almost 1400 artworks in PSAG Permanent Collection, there is more arts to be savor by the visitors.