Intl performing arts centre in the pipeline

KUCHING: The Sarawak government will build an international-class Performing Arts Centre located in the old State Legislative Assembly (DUN) building.

Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan said the building would be a cultural palace for the state of Sarawak with an exclusive design and equipped with advanced technology in terms of stage and many others.

“The venue (the location of the Performing Arts Centre) is in the old DUN, very exclusive as we see in the United Kingdom, London.

“It will be one of Sarawak’s best buildings for performing arts and related programmes including the Sarawak Arts Festival (FKS) can be held there later and, of course, international programmes will also be held there,” he said.

He said this when speaking at the opening ceremony of the Sarawak Arts Festival at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre (HEEC), here last night (Nov 18).

Meanwhile, Snowdan said that FKS this year for the first time is being staged with large-scale art activities.

He said this event should continue in the future to provide opportunities and space to highlight the talents of local artists.

“FKS is one of the best platforms for local artists to promote their work to a higher level,” he added.

The two-day FKS organised by the Sarawak Art Council ends tomorrow (Nov 19) and is the final event for the Traditional Malay Dance and Song Festival for zone level which has already been going on throughout last August.

The FKS event also saw about 30 booths featuring local artwork from various associations, public higher education institutes, agencies and others.

FKS aims to preserve and conserve art and culture in addition to stimulating and promoting art in the community.