WAK attracts 56 creative groups staging 99 events

August 11, 2019

Abdul Karim hits a drum to reveal WAK 2019 calendar. Also seen from left are Hii, Tan and Sharzede (fourth left).

KUCHING: Locals and visitors can look forward to many activities at What About Kuching (WAK) 2019 from Sept 28 to Oct 27.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the unique festival driven by the community for the community is a true partnership between the public and private sectors exemplifying our cohesiveness as Sarawakians with passionate creative talents coming together to stage exciting events for a growing local and visiting audience.

“The third edition of WAK is the largest with 56 creative groups staging 99 different events with a total of 315 daily activities.

What About Kuching back to celebrate arts, lifestyle

April 17, 2019

Abdul Karim and wife Datin Zuraini Abdul Jabbar (front row, sixth right) in a group photo with Snowdan (front row, fourth right), Hii (front row, fifth left), Tan (second row, fourth right), Sharzede (front row, third left) and other guests at the WAK 2019 Action Call Sundowner Party.

KUCHING: What About Kuching (WAK), the festival that celebrates arts, culture and lifestyle, is back for its third edition this year, running from Sept 28 to Oct 27.

The annual festival, which aims to support tourism, culture, heritage and the arts in a bold and innovative way, will gather talented communities from Sarawak and showcase their best efforts in the many genres of arts, culture and lifestyle.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah says with WAK having received great response since its inception in 2017, the festival has the potential to become an international event where talents from other countries can also come here to showcase their creative talents.

World Press Photo show kicks off WAK festival

September 30, 2018

(From right) Korteweg, Karim, Mössenlechner, and van de Bunte marvel over a series of photographs at the exhibition. 

KUCHING: Photographs could leave an impact on the people with their presentations of today's world that will invoke a range of emotions, says Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

In his speech during the launch of World Press Photo Exhibition 2018 at Padang Merdeka yesterday, Abdul Karim said all the exhibited 66 photographs will "offers us in Kuching a view of the world of today, and seen with an open mind, it will allow these ‘Stories that Matter’ to reach out to us and make us think about today’s world.”

Karim also added that the photojournalism workshops organised this weekend in conjunction with the exhibition received overwhelming response.

Abdul Karim: Get everybody involved in arts and culture

September 9, 2018

Abdul Karim (centre) receives a memento from Foo (second right) during the launch of WAK 2018 calendar of events. Looking on are (from left) Tan, Lee and Hii.

KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah wants everybody to get involved in arts and culture.

He said that it is beautiful to see young people of Kuching show their talents and turn Kuching into an exciting place.

“We can see Kuching has lots of talent. We want to see them giving back to society,” he said during the launch of the WAK 2018 calendar of events at Old Courthouse here on Wednesday.

Festival budaya meriahkan Kuching sepanjang WAK 2018

September 06, 2018

SIMBOLIK: Karim pada Majlis Pengenalan Kalendar WAK 2018 di Old Court House, semalam.

KUCHING: Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata program What About Kuching (WAK) 2018 merupakan pelaburan dalam komuniti Kuching yang kreatif.

Belia berkata ini kerana WAK 2018 adalah festival yang dianjur sepenuhnya oleh komuniti untuk komuniti.

“Oktober ini khasnya bermula 29 September ini hingga 28 Oktober bakal menyaksikan Kuching menjanjikan suatu yang hebat untuk penduduk setempat dan pelancong.

Abdul Karim wants WAK to be continued

November 2, 2017

Abdul Karim speaks to the content drivers of WAK 2017. Also seen here are Marina (centre) and Donald (right).

KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah wants to see the What About Kuching (WAK) festival continue in coming years because it would be a waste to deprive locals of a platform to showcase all that was seen last month.

“I’m really impressed by what has been done by the community of Kuching,” he said during the WAK 2017 after-party on Monday night at Grand Margherita Hotel here.

The first WAK celebrating the arts, culture and lifestyles of the people of Kuching has just concluded, ending an event-packed month of October which saw everything from beads to beats, large-scale international events to local special interest tours, and events packing every weekend.

Ramsay Ong has shown an excellent example of growth and progression - Karim

October 3, 2017

(From left) Marina, Ong, Abdul Karim, Donald, and Choi at the launch of ‘About Ramsay’ yesterday.

KUCHING: The life of an artist is fraught with many challenges and eking out a decent living from your passion of the arts is near impossible, except for a handful of those who managed to dedicate their entire lives to it.

Ramsay Ong is one of those artists whose name instantly evokes recognition, having spent over five decades of his life honing and demonstrating his artistic pursuits in Sarawak and abroad.

Speaking at the launch of ‘About Ramsay – Paintings on Tree Bark’ at the Pullman Hotel lobby yesterday, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that Ong needed no introduction to the art community of Malaysia.

New reason to visit Kuching

October 2, 2017

Abdul Karim (centre) beats an electronic drum to officially launch WAK 2017. Looking on from left are Curtis, Ik Pahon, Donald and Marina

KUCHING: What About Kuching (WAK) 2017 is the new reason for visitors to book their tickets to Kuching in October – traditionally a slow month in our inbound tourism calendar – to come and meet the city folk doing what they do best.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg notes that it has been the spirit of collaboration that has truly marked this festival.

“It is presented by the Sarawak government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports, yet driven by the communities of Kuching. It has seen public-private cooperation with funding and support from private enterprises and various government agencies, facilitating the efforts of ordinary Kuching people.

Putting Kuching at the forefront

September 27, 2017

Festival aims to showcase arts, culture and lifestyles of the city and Sarawak to a wider audience

Abdul Karim (centre) together with WAK 2017 sponsors and content drivers at the launch of ‘JOY – Photographs & Haiku’ exhibition.

KUCHING: Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah wants to see the upcoming ‘What About Kuching’ (WAK) festival continue to be held in the coming years.

“We have a lot of things to show,” he said of the month-long celebration of arts, culture and lifestyles which will be officially launched by the chief minister on Sept 30.

Speaking at the launch of ‘JOY – Photographs & Haiku’ yesterday, Abdul Karim recalled that 20 components had confirmed participation in the festival during its first media launch in July.

What About Kuching poised to become iconic city festival

July 26, 2017

Abdul Karim (centre) together with WAK 2017 festival directors and representatives from various participating groups after launching the festival yesterday.

Abdul Karim launching
What About Kuching 2017 yesterday.

KUCHING: The state government and the Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Ministry will provide all the necessary support to ensure that What About Kuching (WAK) 2017 finds success and will become an iconic festival for the city in years to come.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah lauded the effort behind the community-initiated festival that celebrates the arts, culture and lifestyles of the people of Kuching.

“This is not something by the government. They (Kuchingites) came up with the proposal themselves,” he said during the official launch at the Old Courthouse compound yesterday.