Ethics in the Arts: Navigating Cultural Power & Responsibility in Creative Practice

DATE : 5th August 2025 (Tuesday) 

TIME: 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM 

VENUE: KB524

CFAR had invited Mr. Kevin Bathman to facilitate a workshop titled Ethics in the Arts: Navigating Cultural Power & Responsibility in Creative Practice. The workshop was on 5th August 2025, Tuesday, from 2pm to 4.30pm at Universiti Tunku Abduh Rahman, Sungai Long Campus, KB Block. Mr. Kevin Bathman is a creative producer and curator with over 15 years of experience using arts for social change. His work bridges storytelling, cultural engagement, and inclusion across the arts, non-profit, and community development sectors. In this workshop, the participants explored the ethical challenges faced by artists, curators, and cultural workers in Malaysia’s arts and creative sectors. The participants examined real-life scenarios and case studies to reflect on the lines between appreciation and appropriation, collaboration and exploitation, and innovation and preservation. Drawing from both Malaysian and global contexts, the workshop enabled the participants to have critical thinking and ethical decision- making in creative practice.




ABOUT THE FACILITATOR:

Kevin Bathman is a creative producer and curator with over 15 years of experience using the arts for social change. His work bridges storytelling, cultural engagement, and inclusion across the arts, non-profit, and community development sectors.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevin_bathman/

Blog: https://www.mekongculturalhub.org/people/kevin-bathman/



Background of the event: 

Join this workshop as we explore the ethical challenges faced by artists, curators, and cultural workers in Malaysia’s arts and creative sectors.

As creative work increasingly engages with social and cultural issues, practitioners must navigate questions of cultural appropriation, representation, power, and authenticity.

In this 2.5-hour session, participants will examine real-life scenarios and case studies to reflect on the lines between appreciation and appropriation, collaboration and exploitation, and innovation and preservation. Drawing from both Malaysian and global contexts, the workshop encourages critical thinking and ethical decision-making in creative practice.

Ideal for university students and independent creatives seeking to develop more responsible and culturally sensitive approaches to their work.