KUCHING: The What About Kuching (WAK) Festival 2025 aims to further elevate Sarawak’s creative scene by broadening its focus on grassroots performances.
Festival director Donald Tan said that the upcoming WAK Festival will prioritise giving a stage to Sarawakian talents who have yet to showcase their skills.
“Looking forward to 2025, if all the planning goes smoothly, WAK Festival aims to continue elevating Sarawak’s creative landscape by expanding on the grassroots staging.
“I think one of the most important things for WAK is at the grassroots level, providing a platform for our talents who never get an opportunity to actually put their acts on stage to have a platform to showcase their talents.”
In addition to its grassroots expansion, the festival intends to offer a wider variety of workshops, skill-building activities, public art installations, and immersive experiences.
It also plans to foster more partnerships, develop diverse programming aligned with other events, and enhance its marketing strategies.
This year’s WAK Festival 2024 saw a strong turnout and was recognised as one of the top three most captivating leisure, arts, and culture events at the 9th Sarawak Hornbill Tourism Awards.
“I think to receive an award like this from our state is truly a testament to the dedication of the WAK community and I’m confident that our current trajectory will propel us even greater successes in the years to come,” he said during the WAK festival 2024 appreciation dinner on Thursday (Oct 31) at Dewan Sri Mahligai.
A notable addition to this year’s line-up was the launch of satellite festivals in Sibu and Miri in July and August, which saw enthusiastic audiences at both locations.
Meanwhile, a major addition to WAK Festival 2024 is the inclusion of the weekend WAK Sibu and WAK Miri held in July and August.
“These satellite festivals in Sibu and Miri saw enthusiastic turnouts at both locations.”
Major brands like Canon and the Japan Foundation brought events such as the ‘Celebrating Malaysia – Canon Photography Exhibition and Talk Series’ and the Japanese Film Festival onto the WAK Festival platform.
A special momento presentation was given to all event organisers and collaborators, including the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP), city councils—Kuching North City Hall (DBKU), Kuching South City Council (MBKS), Miri City Council (MCC), Sibu Municipal Council (SMC), Padawan Municipal Council (MPP), Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS), Bau District Council—and government agencies.
Additionally, media partners like TVS, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), Sarawak Public Communications Unit (UKAS), CatsFM, Sarawak Edition, BorneoTalk, Kupi Kupi FM, and BIG, along with supporters such as Malaysia Airlines (MAS), Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), and the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Offices in Singapore (STATOS) and Brunei (STATOB), Tourism Malaysia, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia, Infocast Kenyalang, SAINS, and Tegas Digital Village were also presented the momento.
“Our WAK community firmly believes that together, we are shaping a future where Sarawak shines as a beacon of creativity, culture and sophistication.
“Thank you all for being part of this journey and let’s continue to inspire, uplift, and celebrate the creative spirit of Sarawak!” Donald expressed.
Among those present were MTCP Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Deputy MTCP Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan, DBKU mayor Datuk Hilmy Othman, and SMC chairman Clarence Ting Ing Horh.
