KUCHING, Nov 23: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) was recently announced as one of 54 partners for Cultural Economy Development Agency (Cendana) on November 12 during the Art In The City (AITC) 2021 Partners Announcement in Kuala Lumpur.
This followed the launch of AITC on September 30 by Minister of Communications and Multimedia Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Annuar Musa.
In a statement issued today, MBKS said it is collaborating with Think City for The Light Project, a programme run by Cendana as part of AITC, to shine hope and light via light installations and performances in Kuala Lumpur and five other cities — Butterworth, Batu Pahat, Ipoh, Melaka, and Kuching.
“The programme aims to stimulate the local economy through culture, creating more opportunities for members of the creative economy such as local artists, cultural workers, event managers, venue production crew, fabricators, and more.
“The selected site in Kuching is the Traffic Garden at Kenyalang Park, a public park located near one of Kuching’s first People’s Housing Projects (PPRs). The park is for all members of the community—even more so after the recent completion of Kenyalang Park’s Traffic Garden Expansion and Community Rejuvenation Programme, a pilot project under MBKS’s Urban Renewal Initiative led by mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng.
“Physical upgrading of the park is just the beginning as more community-centric projects are planned to enliven the area even further,” said the council in the statement.
It added that Wee has extended MBKS’ support by facilitating programmes and use of space at Kenyalang Park together with the provision of resources such as water, electricity, and manpower.
“The project is to pursue continuous engagement with the arts community and wider public even after completion of the park, to encourage creativity and inclusivity similar to other projects by MBKS such as the New Norms Park which was brought to life by a group of craftsmen led by two young architects and financed through crowdfunding,” said Wee.
According to Minister for Local Government and Housing Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, The Light Project, a sub-programme of Cendana’s AITC, is a welcomed initiative as Sarawak is still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I hope this would encourage similar events in the future to not only benefit the affected communities and sectors but also strengthen them,” said Dr Sim who is also the Batu Kawah incumbent.
Meanwhile, Cendana chief executive officer Izan Satrina Mohd Sallehuddin said the initiative aims to shine a spotlight on artists across Malaysia.
“This year’s AITC is made special with a variety of 100 dynamic, colourful, and optimistic programmes. The effort’s first iteration in 2018 has since then spanned to include an array of music, crafts, food, and more spread across three full months from October to December this year and expanded to five cities nationwide.
“We are encouraged to work with MBKS in contributing to Kuching’s creative sector post-pandemic and look forward to continued collaborations to contribute to the development of the local arts and culture,” said Izan.
Cendana was officially launched on September 6, 2017 to shape a vibrant, sustainable, and ambitious cultural economy for Malaysia, further raising the profile of Malaysian arts and culture to help form the identity of Malaysia as an arts destination and strategically place Malaysia on the global stage. — DayakDaily
