More Than Grants: The Partnerships Revitalising Downtown Kuala Lumpur

ANN MARIE CHANDY | 13 July 2026

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Hannah Yeoh commemorates the official launch of the Downtown Kuala Lumpur Grants Programme 2026 and Downtown Kuala Lumpur Collective Day together with Dato' Hamdan Abdul Majeed and recipients of previous Downtown Kuala Lumpur Grants Programme.

KUALA LUMPUR graffiti artist Looi Mun Loong aka “KOS” thought he was applying for financial support. Instead, he discovered something just as valuable – how to navigate partnerships, work with institutions and turn a passion project into a growing creative enterprise.

Today, KL Graffiti Spot Studio at Semua House is more than a shop selling spray paint. It has become a community hub where aspiring artists learn new skills, murals bring people together and public events celebrate urban creativity. The transformation began with a RM30,000 Business Seeding Activation & Programming grant from the Downtown Kuala Lumpur Grants Programme.

"It was a new experience figuring out how to work with different organisations," KOS recalled. "It definitely helped me understand much more about going through the proper channels."

The funding enabled workshops, community murals and public activations, including an event where participants spray-painted T-shirts attached to a wall before taking home wearable, one-of-a-kind artworks. The studio has also organised live graffiti painting during breakdancing events, blending visual art with music and dance to celebrate hip-hop culture.

"Overall, the grant funding was very useful," he said. “Because we were able to afford to hold community events that brought people together.”

Cham and Kos of Graffiti Spot Studio. Below: Their grant was used for public activations such as Graffi-Tee, a community jam where participants got to paint alongside graffiti artists to create one-of-a-kind wearable artworks. – Photos: KL Graffiti Spot Studio

KOS’s experience reflects the philosophy behind the Downtown Kuala Lumpur Grants Programme, which opened applications for its 2026 cycle on July 8. Implemented by Think City with support from the Ministry of Finance, the programme invites businesses, cultural organisations, community groups, educational institutions and social enterprises to develop projects that make the city's historic core more vibrant, inclusive and liveable. Grants of RM30,000–RM100,000 available. And the closing date for applications is Aug 21.

Rather than funding standalone events, the programme invests in long-term placemaking that contributes to the regeneration of Downtown Kuala Lumpur. Grants are available across six focus areas – Advancing the Museum and Gallery Network (MAGNET), Placemaking and Space Rejuvenation, Cultural Activation and Creative Content, Creative Business Seeding and Organisational Development, Community Engagement and Capacity Building, and Digitalisation and Innovation.

The newest category, MAGNET, recognises museums, galleries and independent spaces as connected cultural anchors capable of drawing people back into the city while strengthening Kuala Lumpur's identity as a creative capital.

This people-centred approach closely mirrors the broader vision of WarisanKL, the national initiative dedicated to preserving and celebrating Kuala Lumpur's urban heritage. Rather than viewing heritage as buildings alone, both initiatives recognise that vibrant cities are sustained by the communities, businesses and creative practitioners who activate those spaces every day.

Yeoh launches the grants and engages with previous grant recipients, funding organisations and ecosystem partners during the networking and walkabout session, learning more about the community-led initiatives that are contributing to the revitalisation of Downtown Kuala Lumpur.

Launching the programme at Odeon Kuala Lumpur, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said revitalising the capital requires giving existing places renewed purpose.

"As our capital city continues to grow, our responsibility is not only to build what is new but also to give new purpose to the places that have always mattered," she said. "The success of Kuala Lumpur will therefore not be measured only by new developments. It will be measured by whether people continue choosing to live here, work here, invest here and return here."

Yeoh said that the government has allocated a total of RM1mil for the Downtown Kuala Lumpur Grants Programme 2026 to support heritage preservation and the rejuvenation of the city centre. She added, however, that Government funding alone cannot transform a city.

"It takes strong partnerships with the private sector, foundations, community organisations and other stakeholders to build a more vibrant, inclusive and sustainable Kuala Lumpur."

Another recipient who has witnessed that collaborative spirit is Amin Jamadi of Makan Buzz Sdn Bhd. His project, Cultural Rhythms at the River, brought weekly multicultural performances to the River of Life during KL Festival 2026, turning the waterfront into a lively showcase of Malaysian performing arts.

"I would definitely apply again because we received such good feedback from tourists and visitors to the festival," Amin said. "We only ran Cultural Rhythms for five weekends, but the response was fantastic."

Amin Jamadi of Makan Buzz, used his grant for 'Cultural Rhythms at the River' , which featured weekly multicultural performances at the River of Life during KL Festival 2026, turning the waterfront into a lively showcase of Malaysian performing arts. – Photo below: Sunlee Khan/KL Festival

The RM30,000 grant provided a valuable boost, but Amin chose to top up the budget himself, adding three more performances after the enthusiastic response from audiences.

For him, the biggest difference was becoming part of a larger cultural movement.

"I loved that it was part of KL Festival," he said. "It wasn't just our event anymore. While we were running performances, other events were happening around us too. The whole ecosystem came alive all at once, and that made a huge difference."

That downtown KL ecosystem was on display during the July 8 launch, which attracted artists, business owners, community organisations, cultural practitioners and representatives from funding agencies. Beyond unveiling the new grant cycle, the event became a networking platform where prospective applicants connected directly with organisations supporting arts, culture and community initiatives throughout the year.

Representatives from funding organisations and ecosystem partners share insights during the panel discussion, 'Advancing Urban and Community Ecosystems: Opportunities, Support and Collaboration for Sustainable Impact'. From left: Masliza Che Omar, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture; Florence Lambert, British Council Malaysia; Nini Marini, Yayasan Hasanah; and Joan Tan, Think City.

A panel discussion moderated by Think City's Izan Satrina featured Masliza Che Omar from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Nini Marini of Yayasan Hasanah, Florence Lambert of the British Council Malaysia and Joan Tan of Think City. The panellists outlined their organisations' funding programmes, discussed how strategic partnerships and grants can strengthen Kuala Lumpur's creative economy while preserving its cultural identity, and answered questions from the audience.

Representatives from Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Yayasan Hasanah, the British Council Malaysia, MyCreative Ventures, the National Unity and Integration Department, Yayasan Sime Darby, Media Prima, SME Corporation Malaysia, Cloudjoi and Think City were also present, reflecting the breadth of organisations investing in the city's future.

For prospective applicants, the journey does not end with submitting a proposal. Think City will hold a series of workshops and briefing sessions throughout July and August to guide applicants through the process while encouraging collaborations across sectors.

More than a decade after Think City began revitalisation efforts in Downtown Kuala Lumpur, the programme continues to demonstrate that meaningful urban renewal starts with local ideas.

Every workshop organised, mural painted, cultural performance staged and heritage space reimagined adds another layer to the city's evolving story. It is a vision shared by WarisanKL – one where preserving Kuala Lumpur's heritage is not simply about protecting its past, but empowering the people whose creativity will define its future.

For more information, go to thinkcity.com.my/grantsdowntownkl