SIBU: Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Deputy Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan has encouraged event promoters to apply for the remaining RM5.35 million in Dana Mudahcara funds.
“I am happy to inform that artists, artisans, cultural associations, registered NGOs under RoS, are eligible to apply for our “Dana Mudahcara untuk Warisan, Kesenian dan Budaya” this year,” he said at the opening of a Melanau’s Hidden Treasure, Kaul & Melanau Photography Exhibition on Saturday (June 10).
Snowdan said RM10 million in Dana Mudahcara funds was given out last year to stimulate the recovery of the heritage, arts and culture sector in Sarawak from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“After organising two sessions of creative industry townhalls in Kota Samarahan and Miri early this year, we realised that our creative industry players are facing funding problems to organise their activities, especially programmes that involve capacity building,” he said.
As capacity building is a crucial element of the creative industry since it ensures the transfer of knowledge, skills, and best practices to individuals and communities, the ministry had applied to continue to use the balance of the RM5.35 million funds.
“I urge all involved in creative industry to apply for this fund,” he said.
He said the Dana Mudahcara fund supports a range of programmes and activities that contribute to the development of Sarawak’s arts, crafts and heritage.
This includes workshops, classes, courses, forums, dialogues, seminars, stage performances, competitions, exhibitions, festivals, documentation projects (such as books and photography), activities involving the local community and similar initiatives.
Meanwhile, on the event, Snowdan congratulated the Sibu Photographer Association (SPA) for continuing their efforts in documenting the ethnic groups in Sarawak through photography art.
“Documenting the culture and traditions of the Melanau people through lenses is a very good way to introduce the unique cultural heritage of the people of the river, Melanau to local Sarawakians and outsiders,” he said.
The Melanau’s Hidden Treasure, Kaul & Melanau Photography Exhibition is being held from June 10 to 16 at Kingwood Hotel.
