Background

Arts Heritage Library Complex was built on a land at Lot 2195 and 2180 in Georgetown City, Northeast District, Penang (at Counterhall, Penang which includes the birthplace of the late Tan Sri P.Ramlee). The Arts Heritage Library project was completed on 31 July 1997 and handed over to the Ministry on 13 August 1997. Penang is the birthplace of popular arts heritage such as bangsawan (Malay opera), boria dan others.

Penang is also the hometown of The Great National Artist and many other famous local artists. Therefore, it is justifiable that the Arts Heritage Library is built here as one of the tourism destinations which reflects the tradition of local cultural arts. The carvings and decorations of the building characterize the essence of traditional Malay design. The building spans an area of 6,000 square meters and divided according to requirements. It places two government offices namely the National Department for Culture and Arts of Penang and Penang Branch of National Archives of Malaysia. It has an Auditorium aptly named P.Ramlee Auditorium which can accommodate 200 persons at one time. The Auditorium is furnished with a stage (47 x 31 square feet), a continuity studio, two changing rooms, left and right space of stage, two men toilets and two women toilets in and outside the auditorium. This building area is suitable and strategically designrd to become the venue or centre of reference, exhibition, performance, research, preservation, documentation of nation’s cultural arts.