SIBU: This town’s growing reputation as a host of international arts events should now translate into something more permanent – a performing arts centre of its own.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said Sibu had reached a stage where it should formally put forward a proposal to the Sarawak government for the development of such a facility.
He said the success and longevity of the Sibu International Dance Festival (SIDF), now in its 12th edition, was clear evidence that the town had both the audience and potential to emerge as an important arts and cultural hub in Sarawak.
“If Sibu wants to have its own performing arts centre, I believe the organisers, with the interest, dedication and commitment they have shown in sustaining SIDF, can submit an application to the Sarawak Government.
“I hope Sibu can also have its own performing arts centre,” he said at the SIDF 2026’s opening ceremony and Gala Night at a prominent hotel here on Saturday (Aug. 29).
Abdul Karim said the proposed centre would go beyond serving as a venue for performances, providing Sibu with the infrastructure needed to host larger-scale festivals, cultural programmes and international events.
More significantly, he said, it could help build a stronger creative ecosystem by giving local artistes and cultural practitioners a proper space to develop, rehearse and showcase their work.
“This is not merely about putting up a building or providing a venue. It is about strengthening the performing arts ecosystem and creative industry in Sibu,” said Abdul Karim, who is also Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development.
He added that the proposal was in line with the Sarawak government’s broader efforts to strengthen performing arts infrastructure across the state.
Abdul Karim said a new performing arts centre was currently being developed in Kuching and was expected to be completed by the end of next year.
The facility, he said, was expected to become an iconic building while providing more suitable venues and supporting infrastructure for the state’s performing arts industry.
Turning his attention to SIDF, Abdul Karim commended Hornland Dance Theatre (Hornland) for keeping the festival alive and growing it into an international platform that brings dance groups from Sarawak, Malaysia and abroad to Sibu.
He said the participation of international groups, including those from Brazil and Mauritius, demonstrated the festival’s growing reach and Sibu’s ability to attract performers from around the world.
“I am very impressed with the organisers for being able to bring so many dance groups from around the world to Sarawak.
“Congratulations to them. In the coming years, we will continue to provide greater support for events such as this,” he said.
Abdul Karim also pointed out that SIDF’s impact extended beyond the performing arts, with international participation generating spillover benefits for tourism, hospitality and local businesses.
The arrival of overseas performers and accompanying visitors, he said, helped increase visitor numbers while creating business for hotels, restaurants and other tourism-related operators.
At the same time, he described the festival as an important platform for cultural exchange, with dance serving as a universal language capable of bringing people from different backgrounds together.
“Festivals such as this strengthen ties between communities while fostering respect and understanding among people from different countries,” he said.
Abdul Karim also encouraged international participants to use their time in Sibu and Sarawak to experience the state’s diverse cultures and local cuisine.
He said Sarawak’s rich cultural heritage, represented by its 34 ethnic groups, remained one of the state’s strongest assets and should continue to be showcased to visitors from around the world.
He expressed hope that SIDF would continue to expand its international standing while helping to drive a wider conversation on the need for stronger performing arts infrastructure in Sibu.
Among those in attendance were Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee; Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng Jin Ek; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) Morshidi Fredrick; Sibu Municipal Council chairman Clarence Ting Ing Horh; and festival director Chen Ing Kuan.
