YSD Arts Festival 2023
Bringing People Together Through the Arts
In multicultural Malaysia, the arts can be a powerful vehicle to promote understanding of cultural differences and building a sense of shared identity. However, there is still a lack of opportunities and platforms for the public to experience, interact with, and engage in art events and programmes locally.
The biennial Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival (YSDAF) has worked to fill this gap since its inception in 2014. Jointly produced by YSD and The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, it is Malaysia’s largest free-for-all arts festival, and the only festival that is truly inclusive for persons with disabilities (PWDs). Its reach and impact extend beyond the arts, as the festival champions the causes of and acts as a bridge for many underrepresented and underserved communities, such as refugees, wheelchair users, individuals with vision or hearing impairment, autism, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, and people living with HIV.
Crowd Drum Circle, where visitors gather around and drum together to the beat of a lead drummer, has been a crowd favourite since 2014.
This is achieved through measures such as its free admission tag, friendly atmosphere, diverse representation, as well as PWD-friendly amenities and services. The event has paved the way for many firsts: it is the only festival in Malaysia where the crew undergoes compulsory Disability Equality Training (DET) and Disability Related Services Training (DRST), with a dedicated team of Festival Ambassadors to assist persons with disabilities at the festival.
The event is also committed to sustainable and eco-friendly practices, including the enforcement of a festival-wide Bring Your Own Container (BYOC), rentNreturn foodware service to avoid single-use plastic, opting for recyclable materials, as well as providing recycling bins and water cooler stations.
Supported by YSD’s funding of RM6.48 million over four editions, YSDAF has not only provided extensive arts exposure to the community, but also helped to foster unity in Malaysian society. Being a ‘By Malaysians, for Malaysians’ event, it features local acts and ensembles that showcase the beauty and diversity of Malaysian art, from the traditional to the contemporary. Though the festival finale is in Klang Valley, it has showcased Malaysian artistes from all over the country, including East Malaysia. It also acts as an incubator to train young producers as well as other staff to produce and manage large-scale festivals.
10 years on, YSDAF has proven to be an effective launch pad for local talents in the arts industry. Even during the pandemic, the event played a role in nurturing new talents among artists and arts practitioners, as klpac trained first-time producers and premiered 70 new works curated exclusively for YSDAF 2023.
Visitors snapping photos with Teochew opera performers
YSDAF is committed to making art truly accessible for all, which means providing training to its festival ambassadors to accommodate visitors with disabilities.
The local arts and creative industry is bursting with talents waiting to be discovered; however, funds are usually insufficient to support the many talents. YSD’s support realises the untapped opportunities where creative arts could drive not just economic growth, but also enrich the lives of everyday Malaysians. Because a world without art would be a dull one indeed.
62,461 festival goers
over four editions
3,500 job opportunities created
1,419 free arts activities
from performances to hands-on workshops, film screenings, and exhibits
91% satisfaction rating
with 98% of visitors expressing a desire for its continuation
Festival goers enjoy a light-hearted moment with performers on stilts dressed in traditional costumes
YSDAF’s position in the Malaysian arts landscape is unique as it not only brings together the local arts industry and showcases all that Malaysian arts can offer but does so while trying to be as inclusive and accessible as possible, extending its reach to the underrepresented and underserved and even making Disability Equality Training and Disability Related Services Training compulsory for its festival crew. It is also leading the way with its comprehensive eco-friendly policies and practices to ensure that its festival is sustainable.”
Total Funding
RM6.48 million over 4 editions since 2014
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