KOTA KINABALU: The Institute for Development Studies (Sabah), in partnership with Konrad-Adenaur Stiftung (KAS) is organising a seminar entitled Sabah’s Rural Creative Communities: Developing and Revitalising Rural Communities Through Arts and Creativity at Magellan Sutera Resort, Kota Kinabalu on Thursday, 28th March 2019. Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Education & Innovation, Sabah, YB Jenifer Lasimbang has been invited to be the guest of honour at this seminar.
In a statement today, Chief Executive Officer of IDS, Datuk Dr. Johan Arriffin Samad said in today’s development context, the Creative Economy is widely recognised globally as the leading actor in generating economic growth, employment and trade. He highlighted that the creative industries are seen as a key component in a new knowledge economy, with possibilities on delivering urban and rural regeneration through initiatives linked to utilization of cultural heritage that closely links to the tourism sector.
“The federal and state government has acknowledged the importance of creative industries as part of the state and the nations development strategies,” said Datuk Dr Johan, referring to the National Creative Industry Policy, Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) and the “Study on the Development of the Creative Industries in Sabah” undertaken by IDS for the State government.
“In Sabah, creativity, especially in culture, traditional heritage, and tourism assets, coupled with vast rural areas are essential keys to Sabah’s unique and distinctive identity,” said Datuk Dr. Johan. He added that by exploring the untapped potentials of rural creative communities, the state could position itself to boost their income contribution in terms of income generation, employment and poverty eradication.
The seminar will start with a key panellist forum with the theme “The Importance of Creativity and Innovation in Enhancing Rural Communities”. The key panel session will be moderated by IDS CEO Datuk Dr. Johan Arriffin, with the row of panellists which includes the Seminar’s Guest of Honour, YB Jenifer Lasimbang, Wolfgang Hrushka, representative of KAS, Datuk Adeline Leong, IDS Board of Director, and Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Pugh-Kitingan, Fellow of Borneo Institute for Indigenous Studies.
This will be followed by three sessions of panel discussions with three separate themes. The first session with the theme “Challenges and Solutions in Developing Sabah’s Creative Industries”, will be moderated by Nova Goh, managing Director of Dreamer Visual Sdn. Bhd., with Nadira Ilana, Industry Panel Advisor for the National Film Development Corporation (FINAS), Rey Kimara, Station Manager for VOKFM, Geoffrey Sinn Chun Hou, co-founder of All-For-One Productions, and Evelyn June Charlie, Chairperson of Socio-Cultural & Education Cluster, BIMP-EAGA Business Council, as the row of panellist. The second session, with the theme “Supporting Artists and Cultural Identity in Rural Sabah”, will be moderated by Constantine Palawan, Film Producer /Actor from Deeply Addictive Sdn. Bhd., and the panellists are Joanna Kitingan, Chairman of KDCA Women Council, Rizo Leong, Co-Founder of Pangrok Sulap Art Collective, Muji N.C. Ampau, President of Tobilung Bersatu Sabah (TOBISA) and Record Producer and Singer Song-Writer, Jonathan Tse. The third session with the theme “Creative Platforms and Spaces in Sabah” will be moderated by Sahara Usli, Founder of Hath Agency, and the panellists are Anton Ngui, Chairman of Future Alam Borneo (FAB), Arthur E. Lee, President of Society of Performing Arts Kota Kinabalu Sabah (SPArKS), Patricia Regis, founding member of Tamparuli Living Arts & Cultural Heritage Association (TLACHA), and Aaron Lam Organiser of Jesselton Artisan Market.
About two hundred participants from public, private sector and NGOs are expected to participate in this seminar. Participation to the seminar is by invitation only.
