The building at 57 Jalan Macalister has reopened as a branch of the Penang State Museum after being closed for about six years, and the State Art Gallery now runs from the same premises.
The reopening also launched the Penang Art Open 2025 exhibition, themed Future Ecologies, which displays works by the winners of the 2025 competition. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow opened both the branch and the exhibition, according to The Star.
Repair and upgrading works covered the roof, electrical wiring and a fresh coat of paint, Chow said in his speech. A new automotive gallery inside the compound has added exhibition space.
The building once housed the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, which opened as a maternity hospital on 13 September 1915.
Upgrading works at the gallery’s home in Dewan Sri Pinang, expected to begin in early 2027, drove the move to Macalister Road, Buletin Mutiara, the Penang government news portal, reported. Admission to the branch is free until 30 November. From 1 December, tickets will match the rates at the Farquhar Street museum: RM3 for Malaysian children aged five to 12, RM5 for Malaysian adults, RM10 for foreign children, RM25 for foreign adults, and RM3 or RM10 for Malaysian and foreign visitors who are disabled or aged 60 and above.
The collection covers artefacts, handicrafts, traditional costumes, historical paintings, works by pioneering artists and contemporary pieces. It also carries the contribution of the late comics artist Mohd Azmi Mohd Hussin, which adds to the record of Penang’s art and popular culture.
Chow said the branch was an important step in preserving the state’s history and in making its cultural treasures easier to reach. “Take the time to appreciate the stories behind them, as museums should not merely be places where old artefacts are kept,” he said.
Wong Hon Wai, state executive councillor for tourism and creative economy and chairman of the Penang State Museum board, said he hoped the state’s museums would serve as centres for learning, research and knowledge-sharing.
Chow said 2026 had been a strong year for heritage conservation in Penang. The automotive gallery opened on 3 February, and the Penang State Museum in Farquhar Street reopened on 23 July after nine years of restoration work.
Chow also handed cash prizes to the competition winners. Also present were state financial officer Datuk Zairi Mat Ali, Penang island mayor Datuk A. Rajendran, Penang Art Gallery chairman Lee Khai, museum director Haryany Mohamad, Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh and Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Wong Yuee Harng.
