KUALA LUMPUR – Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan (ASWARA) successfully transformed its campus into a vibrant creative hub through the ASWARA Artskap Festival, bringing together performances, workshops, screenings and cultural activities that introduced visitors to the wide opportunities available within the arts and creative industry.
The festival, held in collaboration with the KL Festival, attracted an estimated 3,000 visitors, marking one of the institution’s highest single-day attendance records in more than 30 years.
ASWARA Artskap programme director Hadi Yusri described the festival as a reflection of contemporary creativity rooted in traditional values.
“ASWARA ARTSKAP reflects the emergence of contemporary creativity rooted in traditional values, merging festivity with education in line with ASWARA’s motto, ‘Moving Forward with Tradition,’” he said.
The festival featured a wide range of activities across multiple segments including theatre productions, cultural performances, public forums, film screenings and interactive workshops, allowing visitors to experience both traditional and modern art forms in an accessible and engaging environment.
Among the highlights were the staging of Randai Macbeth, a traditional adaptation of William Shakespeare’s classic play, children’s theatre production Imagina, outdoor film screenings, music showcases and performances by ASWARA students and industry practitioners.
Hands-on workshops also drew strong participation throughout the festival, covering areas such as digital painting, vertical content creation, abstract art, wayang kulit, gamelan, zapin, public speaking, AI for learning and productivity, vocal performance and theatre acting.
The programme also gave visitors, especially young people and prospective students, the opportunity to explore ASWARA’s creative ecosystem more closely through programme consultations, auditions, casting sessions and direct engagement with lecturers, artists and industry players.
Hadi said the festival successfully bridged the gap between education, industry and the wider community.
“Driven by ASWARA’s academic and industry experts, ASWARA ARTSKAP successfully connected communities across generations, backgrounds and professional fields, bridging the gap between education, industry, heritage and public participation through an inclusive arts and cultural experience,” he said.
The festival also highlighted the growing public interest in arts and cultural education, while showcasing the role creative industries can play in career development and community engagement.
Adding to the lively atmosphere was the Sinar Daily booth, which became one of the interactive attractions throughout the festival grounds.
Visitors gathered at the booth to participate in games and activities including giant Jenga challenges, trivia sessions and the Smartlympics competition, which tested participants’ quick thinking and general knowledge in a fast-paced format.
Participants also walked away with various prizes and goodies, including Sinar Daily merchandise, gifts sponsored by Jasmine Food Corporation and items contributed by TikTok Shop.
One of the festival’s standout attractions was the Sinar Daily Smartlympics ASWARA edition, where contestants competed in rapid-fire intellectual duels focused on arts, culture, heritage and Malaysian traditions.
The competition’s grand prize, a Hollyland Lark M2S wireless microphone system, was won by physics teacher Saiful Azlan Saiful Annuar, 31, who emerged victorious after outperforming nine other contestants.
Speaking after the competition, Saiful said he joined mainly for the experience and did not expect to win.
“I just wanted to challenge myself and have fun. The questions were really intense because you only have seconds to think and answer,” he said.
The festival also highlighted the growing public interest in arts and cultural education, while showcasing the role creative industries can play in career development and community engagement.
Beyond performances and workshops, the event included discussions on copyright, traditional arts sustainability, digital creativity and community arts, offering visitors deeper insight into the evolving landscape of Malaysia’s creative sector.
Hadi added that ASWARA remained committed to supporting national efforts in strengthening arts, culture and heritage education.
“Moving forward, ASWARA aims to remain committed to strengthening the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture’s (MOTAC) and Kuala Lumpur’s missions in arts, culture and heritage education initiatives,” he said.
The festival reinforced ASWARA’s role not only as a higher learning institution for the arts, but also as a platform that connects creative education, cultural heritage and public participation under one space.