From April to August, the YSDAF 2025 tour spans 10 locations across Peninsular Malaysia. - Photos: YSDAF and KLPac
For the first time since its inception, the Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival (YSDAF) is going on tour.
The bi-annual festival (free admission) has announced that it is changing up its format for its 10th anniversary. Rather than holding the festival in one location, this time, YSDAF is going to the people. Taking place between April and August, the YSDAF 2025 tour will journey through 10 locations in Peninsular Malaysia, from small towns and kampung stops to busy urban areas under the banner of this year’s theme, “Community Side by Side”.
Presented by Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) and the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac) – with support from Sime Darby, SD Guthrie, and Sime Darby Property, as well as the government under Budget 2025 – this multi-location approach holds up the festival’s mission to break down barriers, make the arts more accessible, and empower Malaysians to be a part of Malaysian arts.
'Whether in the kampung or the cities, it is an invitation to come together, to share, and to experience the beauty and power of creativity,' says Faridah. - Filepic
“Like before, there will be a variety of offerings, from the traditional to the contemporary, dance to theatre. YSDAF 2025 sends a strong message and is not just about showcasing the arts, but about driving home that the arts belong to all Malaysians," says Datuk Dr Faridah Merican, executive producer of KLPac and YSDAF, at a recent press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
“Whether in the kampung or the cities, it is an invitation to come together, to share, and to experience the beauty and power of creativity,” she adds.
“We are truly excited to be going on our first-ever YSDAF tour around Peninsular Malaysia. With over 130 arts activities in Kedah, Pahang, Selangor, Melaka, Johor, and Kuala Lumpur, each locale will host a tailored mix of performances and workshops to engage and inspire Malaysians from all walks of life,” adds YSD chairman Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar, who was also present.
Something for everyone
Folks beyond the Klang Valley will finally be able to get a taste of the festival as the team heads out to various schools and communities in seven locations from April through May in the Kampung Tour.
Held for one day only in each location, the festival will be stopping by Merbok, Kedah; Karangan, Kedah; Serendah, Selangor; Masjid Tanah, Melaka; Kuantan, Pahang; Banting, Selangor; and Renggam, Johor.
Festival-goers will have the opportunity to enjoy Dollah, a touching Bahasa Malaysia play about a headmaster told through the eyes of his son, which was written by Arsyad Azrai and directed by Christopher Ling.
Others will have the chance to experience an educational theatre showcase by the KL Shakespeare Players.
YSDAF has always been a family-friendly fest with activities for all ages.
Shows aside, participants will be able to participate in drum-making using recycled materials and a community drum circle by The Colours of Sound, as well as traditional and modern dance workshops by ASK Dance Company.
Human library interviews will also be conducted at each stop in the Kampung Tour under "Ceritaku" to turn these real-life experiences into a performance that will premiere at the Urban Tour, connecting communities across Peninsular Malaysia.
Following the Kampung Tour is the Urban Tour, which will take place at three locations, with one each month from June to August: KL East Mall in Melawati, Kuala Lumpur; PARC in Subang Jaya, Selangor; and Elmina Lakeside Mall in Shah Alam, Selangor.
Urban audiences will get to experience highlights from the Kampung Tour, along with an array of mini performances across various genres.
Of course, the YSDAF experience is not complete without its popular hands-on workshops, community drum circles, and eco-zone booths where you can pick up a skill or create art and a memorable experience.
Truly inclusive
Beyond broadening its geographical reach, YSDAF 2025 continues the festival’s mission to make the arts more accessible, regardless of physical limitations or abilities, for a truly inclusive experience.
“As the brainchild of former YSD Chairman Tun Musa Hitam, YSDAF has become a significant cultural event in the country – it has drawn in more than 63,000 participants through an array of nearly 1,500 arts events that bridge communities and provide a platform for the disabled to express themselves using the arts,” says Tunku Imran in his keynote address during the press conference.
The festival will debut three new works under its Pitch Start programme, focusing on Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
An open call for submissions to Pitch Start will begin soon, and is expected to run until March 30.
At YSDAF, the arts know no limits - only endless possibilities.
As the only festival in Malaysia to have its crew undergo Disability Equality Training (DET) and Disability Related Services Training (DRST), YSDAF 2025 continues this tradition to be inclusive and welcoming.
Similar to every YSDAF held since 2014, this year’s festival is also expected to generate employment opportunities, creating over 1,000 jobs for local arts workers and artistes, catalysing both cultural and economic growth.
YSDAF 2025 will close with a bang in a grand finale in August at Elmina Lakeside Mall, featuring an assortment of performances for every type of attendee, including street performers for children, as well as buskers and bands for music enthusiasts.
Highlights for YSDAF 2025 include three site-specific works that have been commissioned for the festival, among them performances by programme partners Orang Orang Drum Theatre and MyDance Alliance.
More info: ysdartsfestival.com.my. Instagram: @ysdartsfest.
