By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Apr 20: Sarawak is set to develop a digital database for the State’s arts and culture as part of efforts to strengthen heritage documentation and position it as a formal reference centre for the creative industry.
According to a TVS news report, Sarawak Arts Council (MSS) Chief Executive Dr Suffian Jalet said the initiative will begin this year, involving comprehensive data collection covering communities from Limbang to Kuching.
He said the database will compile information on active arts associations across the State, as well as detailed documentation of Sarawak’s 34 ethnic groups, including their artistic heritage and cultural identities.
“This will serve as an official reference centre that can be accessed by anyone, not only in Sarawak but also at a broader level,” he said at the MSS Hari Raya Aidilfitri Open Day 2026 event held at Dewan Sri Rampai on Saturday (Apr 18).
Beyond documentation, Dr Suffian said the digitalisation effort is crucial in safeguarding cultural heritage from being lost due to insufficient records, while also ensuring local talent has access to proper platforms for development.
In line with this, he said MSS will further strengthen its support ecosystem for the creative industry through expanded collaboration with government agencies, industry players, non-governmental organisations and creative communities.
He added that MSS is undergoing a strategic transformation from its traditional role as an event organiser to a more structured institution serving as a cultural data and reference hub for Sarawak.
“In this new era, arts and culture are no longer peripheral elements but strategic assets that shape identity, strengthen unity and drive the creative economy,” he said.
Building on this direction, Dr Suffian stressed that Sarawak’s rich cultural diversity, spanning multiple ethnic groups, languages, customs and performing arts, must be carefully managed, preserved and strategically promoted as a key strength for the future.
He further said MSS’s existing office will undergo renovation in the near future to reflect its refreshed identity as a more dynamic and authoritative cultural institution. — DayakDaily
