IN an effort to promote and improve awareness and knowledge of the importance of cultural arts in life, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) through the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) launched a program to ‘Enliven Cultural Arts’ (Menyemarakkan Seni Budaya) in every state JKKN across the country, starting from May 20.
In the nation's capital, the program is taking place from yesterday until tomorrow at the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory JKKN Complex (WPKL).
Director of JKKN WPKL, Hidayatul 'Ein Mohamad Azmi said this time it was JKKN WPKL's turn as the organiser of the program LepakSeni@KL, together with Persatuan Mekar Budaya in collaboration with ten cultural arts organisations around the capital.
"This program aims to produce new talents in art and culture through workshops/competitions/performances. In addition, KL citizens will have the opportunity to generate income from cultural arts activities through the sale of art products, production workforce and expertise sharing.
"JKKN also hopes to attract foreign tourists to learn about Malaysian art and culture at JKKN's location near Petaling Street and the 130-year-old historic auditorium building which has been recognised as a heritage building under the National Heritage Act," she said in a statement.
Among the interesting activities throughout the program were the Kebaya cart competition in collaboration with Kerjasama Persatuan Tepak Tellaz; traditional games jury workshop (Persatuan Sukan Tradisional Malaysia), caricature painting and sales exhibition (Persatuan Seni Persembahan Neotrik, Budaya dan Warisan), Basic Acting Workshop with Khairunazwan Rodzy (Pertubuhan Revolution Stage), Seni Silat (Persatuan Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi WPKL), Silamban demonstration (Persatuan Seni Silambam Maaveeran Malaysia) and Malaysian rhythm singing competition (Persatuan Teater Malaysia).
Hidayatul said JKKN also organised a Forum Nostalgia Panggung Drama which discussed the history, development and contributions related to the existence of the stage in the JKKN complex and its relevance to the development of art in Kuala Lumpur.
"The panel members consisted of leading figures in the theatre, namely actor and director Mior Hashim Manap, as a long-time activist who knows and has seen this theatre since the 1970s, editor and veteran journalist, Ku Seman Ku Hussein who covers from different angles as a media practitioner who actively sees art development, as well as senior lecturer of the Faculty of Creative Arts, University of Malaya, Dr Marlenny Deenerwan, who represents the new generation that has benefited from the existence of this stage from the late 1990s until now," she said.
She said the highlight of the performance on the final night was the Malam Genta Seni, organised by the DBP Cultural Agency, which will feature Sasterawan Negara Datuk Rahman Shaari.
"The highlight program, which will combine performances of various art genres symbolising the spirit of Madani Malaysia will also be attended by singers Sani Sudin and Aris Ariwatan," she added. – The Vibes, June 24, 2023
