Arts & Public Spaces

Protecting and promoting the essence of Malaysia

A young artist in the making; one of the participants demonstrating his skills on gamelan in the Alam Kreatif programme by Pusat Kreatif Kanak-Kanak Tuanku Bainun (PKKTB).

Overview

Our arts, heritage, and public spaces play significant roles in the lives of all Malaysians. They form the core of what defines us, from the entertainment we consume to the places  we spend our free time in. Therefore, appreciating them as part of our national identity is key to ensuring they thrive through time for our future generations to enjoy.

While the country is made up of a diverse set of people, preferences, and cultures, we collectively hold many distinct qualities and values that make us Malaysians. These are the qualities that we aim to celebrate and build upon. To do this, we engage with communities, grassroot organisations, and policymakers to ensure the preservation of our traditions, as well as our fast-disappearing urban public spacesremain on track.

Our Priorities

Borak Arts Series by My Performing Arts Agency (MyPAA), a platform that creates opportunities and builds capacity through the congregation of local and international cultural leaders and artists in Malaysia.

Development of Local Talents

Malaysia is home to a wealth of traditional arts and crafts which are at risk of being forgotten. It is our aim to ensure these valuable arts and the skillsets required to create them are shared with the younger generation to enable their preservation.

Together with Tradisi Busana PR, we embarked on a creative journey to preserve the art of silversmithing by supporting five master craftsmen in coaching and mentoring 30 artisans. Beyond enhancing skills, the initiative created new job opportunities for local talents and enabled them to enhance their livelihood in the long run.

Enrichment of the Local Arts Scene

Through the Hasanah Arts Fund, our hope is to reach more aspiring artists and work with them to rediscover and highlight our country’s rich and diverse culture. We do this by supporting small and medium community-led initiatives across the country, keeping our unique arts scene alive and vibrant. Some of the initiatives we have supported are the Young Choreographer Project, the George Town Festival, and Bangsawan Dendam Laksamana, a play based on the story of a real admiral, Laksamana Bentan. 

In 2017, we worked with Giclee Art to launch the “Talent Development & Art Reproduction for Emerging Artists in Malaysia” programme, which aims to groom and promote local artists in visual art, photography, and digital art. The programme provides up-and-coming talents with mentorship and a platform to take their work to the domestic and global markets.

Students from SK Ladang Pendas in Gelang Patah, Johor, performing during the Trust Schools Conference’s school visit.
Classical Bharatanatyam Performance & Folk Dance by Children from Kalpana Dance Theatre for ArtsFAS at Cooler Earth Dialog organised by CIMB.

ArtsFAS (Arts for All Seasons)

Event Activation

ArtsFAS is a platform to showcase Malaysia’s preserved and conserved arts in a public event. We aim to educate the younger generation through experience to create awareness and appreciation of our heritage. ArtsFAS is organised in the final quarter of every year, where we work with various collaboration partners to honour our artists.

Preservation of Public Spaces

Every city in Malaysia needs accessible areas where everyone can feel safe and welcome. To make this possible, we work to rejuvenate our country’s urban public spaces. 

Think City, our partner, runs community-centred urban regeneration projects which aim to create more liveable, resilient, and people-friendly cities. By working closely with governments, international agencies, and local communities, they are able to inspire change in the way cities are planned, developed, and celebrated.  

Collaborating with the Johan Cruyff Foundation, Hasanah has also been developing Cruyff Courts around the country. These are safe spaces where children of all backgrounds, including those who are disabled or with special needs, are free to play and enjoy the facilities. We also introduced various sports programmes and a ‘Heroes of the Cruyff Courts’ initiative which aims to transform passionate and driven youths into role models for their neighbourhood peers.  

Together, our efforts help enhance the day-to-day living of our communities.

Our Arts & Public Spaces Partners

Community Development Stories

18 Malaysian Textile Artisans Recognised at the Prestigious Hasanah Gold Threads Awards 2023

Trustee & Managing Director of Yayasan Hasanah, Dato’ Shahira Ahmed Bazari presenting the Hasanah Gold Award “Patron of Malaysia’s Heritage Textiles” to Yang Amat Berbahagia Puan Sri Dato Hajjah Fatimah Binti Haji Mohd Iskandar to receive the award on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen in recognition of Her Royal Majesty’s important contributions, dedication and unwavering influence over the years in the realm of Malaysian textiles.

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