MD Digital and Creative Tech Session: Opportunities in Blockchain and Augmented Reality for Creatives and Arts

Overview

As the creative industries evolve alongside digital technologies, this panel explores how artists and cultural practitioners are leveraging tools like blockchain, NFTs, and Augmented Reality (AR) to expand their practice and engage new audiences. Panelists will dive into the potential of blockchain platforms like the Sandbox universe, the role of NFTs in redefining ownership and value, and how AR is reshaping exhibitions and storytelling. The conversation will also cover the digitalisation of the living arts, looking at how traditional performance, crafts, and heritage practices are being preserved, adapted, and amplified through technology. Through real-world examples and current projects, this session offers valuable insights into how emerging tech is creating fresh possibilities in the creative space, not just as a trend, but as a sustainable part of the creative economy.

As part of our week-long programme, each day features two key parts:

1. Expert Panel Sessions – held every evening from 8:00 PM, bringing together leading voices to discuss critical topics shaping Penang’s creative industries.
2. Co-Creation in Our Living Lab – taking place daily from 3:30 PM at Digital Penang, where the public and stakeholders are invited to take part in shaping ideas, testing prototypes, and co-developing strategies to support Penang’s creative economy.

Who Should Join

This panel is ideal for creatives, technologists, educators, cultural workers, and anyone curious about the future of creativity in a digital age.

Panel Members

Moderator

Dr. Beh May Ting (Research Director, Penang Institute)

Panelist

• Ms. Venus Khor (Cheif Brand Officer & Board Diretor, MASVERSE)
• Mr. Fariz Hanapiah (Creative Director, Experiential Design Team)

Other Panel Sessions

In addition to this session, we have a series of panel discussions held each evening, each one built around a daily theme highlighting a different aspect of Penang’s creative sector.

You may register for multiple sessions by visiting our main profile.

About Penang Creative Industries Living Lab

The Living Lab will take place in Digital Penang, featuring a series of panel discussions, public dialogues, and co-creation activities aimed at exploring practical strategies for developing Penang’s creative industries. Each day of the Living Lab includes two main components: 

1. Co-Creation in Our Living Lab (Daily from 3:30 PM) -  Explore a hands-on innovation space where creative start-ups and entrepreneurs showcase their prototypes. Test ideas, give feedback, and help shape better solutions. This is co-creation in action — your input makes a real difference.
2. Panel Sessions (Daily from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM) - Join evening panels featuring local creative experts discussing key topics shaping Penang’s creative economy.

Using a living lab methodology, PLLACE brings together creative practitioners, government agencies, researchers, and citizens to collaboratively design new solutions, training concepts, and policy ideas in real-world settings. This initiative hopes to contribute to Penang’s long-term creative economy goals by addressing current challenges while encouraging sustainable, inclusive growth. 

About PLLACE Project

The Penang Living Lab for Advancing the Creative Economy (PLLACE) is a research-driven initiative focused on strengthening Penang’s creative sector through co-creation, policy development, and collaborative innovation. Funded by the British Academy (UK), PLLACE is jointly carried out by researchers from Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Greenwich, Universiti Sains Malaysia, and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman. The initiative is supported locally by key partners including Penang Institute, Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC), and Penang Art District. For this Living Lab programme, we are also proud to have Digital Penang and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) as our strategic partners.

Photography & Videography Notice

Please note that this is a public event. Photography and videography may be conducted throughout the event for documentation and promotional purposes. By entering the event space, you acknowledge and agree that your image may be captured in photos and videos, and that these materials may be used in future promotional and marketing content related to the event or its organisers.