From January to August 2025, Malaysia will stage the Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival (YSDAF). Now celebrating its 10th year, the festival will cover various locations, communities and artists nationwide, united by a common theme: Community Side By Side.
Since 2014, this incredible arts festival has been a mainstay of the Malaysian arts calendar, delivering a packed schedule of around 1,500 arts activities every 2 years, free of charge, to locals and international visitors alike. YSDAF 2025 is expected to offer a celebration of one of its founding principles, the spirt of “arts for all”.
YSDAF is the creation of Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) and The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac), with support from Sime Darby Berhad, SD Guthrie Berhad and Sime Darby Property Berhad, and funding from the central government. Programme partners for YSDAF 2025 include the Orang-Orang Drum Theatre, the MyDance Alliance and Soundscape Records.
“This year, YSDAF is doing things a little differently as the team will be bringing the festival to your doorstep,” said the event organisers in a recent statement. “YSDAF 2025 will journey through 10 locations in Peninsular Malaysia, from quaint kampungs (villages) to bustling cities, to make the arts more accessible and empower Malaysians to be a part of Malaysian arts.”
The founder of klpac, Datuk Dr Faridah Merican, has also commented on the diversity of artistic performances on the billing. In a recent interview, he said: “there will be a variety of offerings, from the traditional to the contemporary, (and from) dance to theatre; YSDAF 2025 is not just about showcasing the arts, but also driving home the message that the arts belong to all.”
YSD chairman Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar added: “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 destination will host a mix of performances and workshops to engage and inspire Malaysians.”
YSDAF 2025 is committed to making the arts accessible, regardless of physical limitations, for a truly inclusive experience. It remains the only festival in Malaysia to have its crew undergo Disability Equality Training (DET) and Disability Related Services Training (DRST), in order to provide an accessible and welcoming experience for all.
