KUALA LUMPUR: Pentas Seni Merdeka shifted into high gear to reignite downtown KL with an infusion of Borneo Music and Dance.
This free monthly public arts initiative is jointly organised by Think City and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) in their continued efforts to increase equity through the activation of public spaces.
Its second edition – Borneo Music and Dance – took place at Jalan Raja on Sept 10 (Saturday).
The programme for this edition was a collaboration with award-winning Alena Murang – a Malaysian singer-songwriter and the first professional female sape musician.
There were also performances by the DBKL Combo & Cultural Artists, and special activities for the visitors such as a Datun Julud Dance workshop, Magunatip or ‘Bamboo Dance’ workshop, and Sumpit or Blowpipes.
The public arts initiative was also made possible with the support of Yayasan Hasanah through its Arts For All Seasons (ArtsFAS) initiative.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib, said in a press statement here the integration of creative and cultural activities and infrastructure are fundamental to creating a more vibrant city.
“In a country as culturally diverse as Malaysia – it is through the merging of different cultural art performances and our historic infrastructure that the vibrancy of our city can be reborn.
” Pentas Seni Merdeka is certainly a platform to uplift and highlight the different communities within Malaysia, bringing our city together once again through the creative and cultural realm,” she said.
Hanifah added that it is her hope that more collaborative efforts and community-driven placemaking will be implemented to make the public spaces welcoming to and representative of Malaysians of all backgrounds.
The next edition of Pentas Seni Merdeka will be held on every second Saturday of the month at Jalan Raja with the third edition slated to be held on8 October 8 followed by two subsequent editions on November 12 and December 10.
For more information, visit www.thinkcity.com.my or use the hashtag #mythinkcity on social media. To learn more about Downtown Kuala Lumpur Grants Programme, visit www.thinkcity.com.my/downtownkl
