By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Sept 1: The What About Kuching (WAK) 2022 festival will feature more than 185 unique events spread across 34 different locations throughout the city, with genres ranging from music to dance to theatre to comedy to spoken word to arts and crafts to outdoor pursuits and more.
WAK 2022 is setting its sights to achieve a 300,000 footfall in audience attendance this year which is marginally more than the 250,000 achieved at WAK 2019.
With WAK 2022, the city of Kuching will be ablaze with exciting arts, culture, and lifestyle events in October.
Supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts (MTCP) Sarawak as its official main sponsor, the month-long community-driven festival enters its 4th edition in 2022 after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking at the ‘WAK 2022 Calendar Reveal’ at the The Old Court House Kuching here today, MTCP Sarawak minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, expressed his delight at the overwhelming response from the creative communities of Kuching, Sarawak, and beyond to bring so much content to this excellent festival.
“October used to be a slow month for us,” he said, adding that the festival will complement other events such as the International Dragon Boat Race and the Kuching Jazz Festival.
He believed that WAK 2022 could become a major event that will place Kuching on the global calendar.
Abdul Karim, who is also the Minister of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development, said that the event gives young people a platform to showcase their talents and creativity.
“Our youths are very talented and very unique. If we don’t tap into it, it will be such a waste,” he added.
Furthermore, he urged non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private sector businesses to join the WAK festival movement, saying: “My ministry is pleased to provide the seed funding to activate this most worthwhile community initiative. However, to take this movement to the next level, we need your help and commitment.”
WAK 2022 will be staged from October 1 to October 31, 2022 at exciting venues around the heart of Kuching city.
Printed programme calendars are available at establishments across the city and regional tourism offices. A digital version is downloadable via the WAK 2022 website at aboutkuching.com. — DayakDaily
