KUCHING: The annual WAK Festival has the potential to become a major regional event in the years ahead as it keeps growing in size and scope, says Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
The state Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister said the festival, which takes place in Kuching throughout October, was now a feature festival for Sarawak.
"From the outset, one of WAK Festival’s key objectives has been to enhance tourism arrivals to benefit the local economy, while providing platforms for creative talents to showcase their pursuits, building greater appreciation for their work and fostering regional and international collaborations.
"Eight editions later, we can see these objectives taking shape. Every October, it gives people another compelling reason to visit Kuching," he said at the WAK Festival calendar reveal and launch here on Thursday (Aug 20).
Abdul Karim said this year's edition will feature 83 unique events by 49 collaborators, with 440 daily events happening throughout October.
He said the collaborators represent a cross-section of Sarawak's creative community, including artists, musicians, comedians, cultural practitioners, entrepreneurs, athletes and filmmakers.
"This year, the WAK Festival offers a range of 14 different genres, from art to comedy, culture to music, theatre to sports, food, film, wellness and more.
"There is something for everyone," he added.
Festival director Donald Tan said the event had grown from an initiative to bring Kuching alive through arts, culture and lifestyle into a wider creative platform.
"WAK has never been about just one organisation, one team or one idea.
"It has been built collectively by a creative community willing to step forward and try something new," he said.
He added that new collaborators this year include Frontrow Asia and Friends of Sarawak Museum, while international partners like Canon and the Japan Foundation will make a return.
