Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival (YSDAF) 2023

Malaysia’s biggest free-for-all arts festival has finally returned after five long years. 

Themed “Shout it Out: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow,” the Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival (YSDAF) 2023 is an invitation for Malaysians to shout out about issues dear to them and to celebrate all things Malaysian.

Presented by Yayasan Sime Darby and The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac), this Malaysian community project typically takes place once every two years to showcase Malaysian artistes and the buzzing Malaysian arts scene. 

350+ Free Arts Activities

With a free admission tag, come one, come all as over a thousand artistes and arts workers invade the klpac grounds to bring you a giant buffet of 300 plus arts activities. 

From the contemporary to the traditional, mainstream to the experimental, expect to feast on something different at every turn and every corner be it shows, hands-on workshops, art installations, film screenings and more. At any one time, you can pick from a minimum 5 activities at 19 different pocket locations around klpac.

Watch, Learn, Create!

What sets it apart besides its scale is that it offers a highly interactive experience – not only can you watch performances but also pick up new skills, create your own masterpiece, learn and more. In short, you can be a part of the magic!

A More Inclusive Festival Experience for All

Apart from engaging different artistes from different communities, YSDAF’s ground crew will also receive Disability Equality Training (DET) and Disability-Related Services Training (DRST). Its festival finale programme also features movement workshops for neurodivergent people, physiotherapy and dance workshop for those with Parkinson’s, movement therapy, art therapy and more. 

Reducing Environmental Footprint

YSDAF 2023 will be working towards reducing single use plastic and advocating for BYOC (Bring Your Own Container, Cutlery, Carrier). Festival goers will also have the option of using the rentNreturn foodware service provider, OPACK, during the festival finale.

Other steps include reducing printing, going digital via Sustainability Partner Neosys, increasing FSC-certified paper usage as well as partnering with NGOs on educational programmes for the festival. 

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