Sabah’s first-ever week-long visual arts festival Oct 27
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will have its first ever week-long visual arts festival soon, thanks to Visual Communication Association KK (VCA KK) and Salt x Paper Stationery & Gifts who have teamed up to organise the festival dubbed as North Borneo Design Week (NBDW).
The event will be held from Oct 27 until Nov 2 at Riverson, here aimed at fostering the growth of the state capital’s creative industry as well as to position Kota Kinabalu as a strategic creative hub to connect countries in the East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) through the showcase of Malaysia’s creative industry.
“This week-long event aims to promote and elevate the local arts and design through a wide range of activities such as artisan markets, art exhibitions, workshops and design talks by prominent speakers in the art and design industry,” said Aaron Lam, the owner of Salt x Paper Stationery & Gifts.
Aaron explained that the big scale art festival would feature over 100 creative vendors including local artists and some from Kuala Lumpur, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, France, USA and more at the artisan market to showcase their creations.
“The creative artworks include fine art, art & crafts, handmade body care products, jewelleries & accessories, home decorations and many more,” he said.
Meanwhile, VCA KK president Noah Lee said the event would be an ‘eye opener’ for Sabahans.
“Design weeks or design festivals are held regularly all over the world. Sabah’s first ever design week will be an eye opener for local creative practitioners as professionals from all over the world are invited to share about their respective fields, vice versa from our local creative industry to the public,” Noah said.
As for the workshops, Noah highlighted that the organizers had invited local and overseas artists, such as Hong Yi (known as Red) and Chua Soon Min (known as Katak) to conduct master classes and share their knowledge through design talks in order to raise the standards of local creative practitioners and make a mark on the global stage.
Showing support for the upcoming event, Kota Kinabalu MP, Chan Foong Hin has contributed RM10,000 while Luyang Assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe sponsored RM2, 000.
According to Chan, although Sabah tourism relies on its natural assets, the arts and culture play a major role by adding value to it.
“By developing the arts and culture and encouraging creative entrepreneurship, we are building a good and diversified image of the state and leave a unique impression to visiting tourists.
Phoong also expressed that tourists come to Sabah not just for its well-known natural tropical beauty and local delicacies, but if presented with Sabah’s local artworks, clothing, handicrafts, it will be a major contribution to Sabah’s tourism.
Further details on North Borneo Design Week and tickets for Design Talks and Workshops are available on www.nbdesignweek.com.
Source: New Sabah Times
