KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Creative Industry Stimulus Package (PRISMA) is expected to support more than 3,000 creative practitioners through various initiatives provided by MyCreative Ventures Sdn Bhd (MyCreative).

In a statement today, MyCreative said PRISMA programmes could also create employment opportunities in spaces, arts organisations, production houses, bands and theatre groups through various assistance in the form of grants, loans, digital platform establishment and upskilling initiatives.

It said that assistance under PRISMA includes the Music Streaming Equipment Grant which will assist 100 musicians to apply new norms and digital elements in their creative activities by providing access to music production and online broadcasting tools.

"Funding is up to RM10,000 per person and applications are now open until April 2," the statement said.

Besides that, over 1,500 creative practitioners will be assisted through the RIUH initiatives comprising RIUH Talks, RIUH at Home and RIUH Directory which provide employment opportunities, platform development, network strengthening and knowledge sharing.

Other PRISMA programmes include the CENDANA Recovery Initiative, namely the implementation of 13 special assistance programmes for visual arts, performing arts, independent music and craft sectors via upskilling, developmental efforts, funding and the establishment of relevant platforms to showcase their works.

MyCreative in the statement also quoted Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah as saying that the PRISMA fund, channelled through MyCreative, CENDANA and RIUH would support creative industry players with the much-needed financial assistance, capacity building and upskilling to overcome the current challenges and address their survivability.

"A total of 32 programmes are carved out to support Malaysian workers namely in film, music, digital creative content, visual arts, performances and crafts," he said in the statement.

Launched on Feb 5, PRISMA is an initiative under the Communications and Multimedia Ministry comprising several recovery initiatives for the creative industry, including the arts and culture industries.

Meanwhile, MyCreative chief executive officer Riza Saian in the same statement said their focus was to boost the national creative industry and assist creative practitioners with strategic relief plan.

MyCreative is a government investment arm set up to spur the local creative industry via strategic and innovative funding in the form of equity or financing.

-- BERNAMA