ABOUT KLIAF

Launched in 2015, the KLIAF is an annual celebration of arts and culture that is produced by DiverseCity, a non-profit organization that advocates, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives. It is now in its fourth year.

DiverseCity’s philosophy embodies the belief that arts and culture impact people, health and well-being, education, society and the economy in many positive ways. Arts and culture inspire and bring diverse communities together; they educate us about ourselves; and help us to appreciate other cultures around the world, improving the quality of life.

Arts and culture empower communities through creative expressions and explore the relationship between health and creativity for the betterment and advancement of society. And as our society becomes increasingly sophisticated, arts and culture remind us of a commonality that unites us as a nation.

According to Datin Sunita Rajakumar, the KLIAF Festival Director, “It is in our DNA to explore and be curious. The performing arts is a compelling means of getting people to realize that despite our background differences, we laugh, cry and become excited at the same scenes; we have a common admiration for talents; and we celebrate the success of those who have dedicated their lives to the arts.”

“Kuala Lumpur is perhaps the only city in the world that can pull off an authentic Asian-based performing arts festival such as KLIAF. As the most multi-cultural, lingual, racial and –religious country in ASEAN, Malaysia is intrinsically equipped to emphasize, understand and appreciate the subtle nuances of different cultures and their art forms.”

Malaysia’s ethnic diversity is a blessing and has made Malaysia a unique, cosmopolitan country. We have more than enough capacity to accept and celebrate our different communities through the common aesthetic forms of arts and culture.

Though the arts scene in Malaysia is still in need of benefactors as well as practitioners to launch a Malaysian arts renaissance, the possibility exists based on the interest and increasing support that the arts and cultural events have received from practitioners, supporters, audiences and corporates.

Aside from showcasing creative expressions of the talented practitioners, the KLIAF also aims at empowering artistes and performers who have been struggling under decades of chronic under-investment, to push creative boundaries and to better market their works.

There is a need for longer term sustainability within the cultural ecosystem, not just surrounding the creation of works of art, but also in building core skillsets in the administration, marketing and other support areas of the arts, as well as providing exposure to and cultivating an appreciation for the arts in audiences.

DiverseCity also works as a platform for like-minded professionals and volunteers with a passion for the arts to come together and share experiences and ideas for the betterment of the arts and its community. By getting involved in organizing the Festival, arts enthusiasts have the opportunity to lend a hand in various aspects of putting the Festival together – from branding and communication to marketing, sales and sponsorship.

As much as the Festival acts as a springboard for up and coming art practitioners, it also seeks to showcase the power of the arts to heal the mind, body and soul. Numerous research has shown that the arts have long provided emotional and physical release from health or life’s burdens. Health psychologists have also begun looking at how the arts may be used to heal emotional injuries and alter behavior patterns through creative expressions, namely music, literature and visual arts.