KUCHING: The Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts is planning to promote heritage awareness in schools across Sarawak.
Its Principal Assistant Secretary Dr Elena Gregoria Chai from the Arts, Culture and Heritage section said after the Sarawak Heritage Ordinance 2019 was gazetted, there has been plans to introduce such programmes especially among the younger generation in schools.
“To love our own heritage, it has to come from the younger generation.
We want them to be ambassadors and subsequently invite them to our museum and be spokespersons.
“I’m an anthropologist by practice, so sometimes when I visit longhouses or villages, the children are very interested but it’s just that they don’t know how to start.
“Even though we don’t practice it (old practices) we should acknowledge the traditional knowledge which has been passed down from our forefathers,” she told reporters after attending a talk at Telang Usan Hotel here, Sunday (Oct 22).
Meanwhile, on the programmes and activities implemented by the Ministry, Dr Chai said there were a total of 54 programmes involving RM2.58 million in grants as of October this year.
She said the programmes come under the Dana Mudahcara for arts, culture and heritage.
Among the programmes implemented are two visual arts programmes with one photography contest and one photography exhibition; one book publication on intangible heritage on Iban of Sarawak, Chinese, and festivals in Sarawak; seven capacity buildings workshops related to vocal singing, song composition, lyric writing. storytelling, making of Iban “Sugu Tinggi”, among others.
“The activities and events organised by artists and assocations have helped to promote awareness on the importance of Sarawaks unique and diversified rich heritage, arts, and culture,” said Dr Chai.
