BINTULU: Bintulu Division hosted the third session of the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts’ Town Hall, following sessions in Kota Samarahan and Miri, held on February 25 and March 18 respectively.
Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan, said that his ministry sees the sessions as the best approach to gather feedback, suggestions, or perspectives from creative arts practitioners, as well as to encourage the development of the creative industry in the state.
“Creative industry is indeed a large sector that encompasses many categories and subcategories. Among the identified categories and subcategories for Sarawak’s Creative Industry are five major categories with 18 subcategories,” Snowdan said in the session at a hotel here yesterday.
According to him, Sarawak is not lacking in artistic, cultural, and heritage resources, considering that the state is home to 34 ethnic groups, each with its own unique art, culture, and heritage.
He noted that this abundance means Sarawak never lacks artistic, cultural, and heritage resources, waiting to be tapped into.
“Thus, in the past year, the Sarawak government, through our ministry, supported 80 programmes based on art, culture, and heritage under the Facilitation Fund for Art, Culture, and Heritage, aimed at stimulating the recovery of Sarawak’s heritage, art, and culture sector following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are pleased to see many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and art practitioners taking the initiative to apply for and carry out meaningful and beneficial programmes and activities.”
He added that until August 8, the ministry had approved a total of 12 applications amounting to RM 461,000 from individuals, associations, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to support various activities aimed at promoting Sarawak’s art and heritage.
Also present were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, Datu Sherrina Hussaini, Chief Assistant Secretary of the Art, Culture, and Heritage Section of the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, Dr Elena Gregoria Chai Chin Fern, and Sarawak Craft Council (SCC) manager Diweng Bakir.
