C. Khor
The Butterworth Fringe Festival (BFF) celebrated its 7th edition with resounding success, attracting around 30,000 visitors to Padang Permuda Merdeka at Bagan Luar.
Centred on creativity, culture, and community, the festival has become a cultural landmark, fostering local and international performances.
Festival beyond cultural extravaganza
Datuk Azhar Arshad, Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) Mayor, expressed the festival’s significance, stating, “This event serves as an avenue for local and international performances and celebrates everything extraordinary about the arts.”
The BFF, beyond being a cultural extravaganza, aims to position Butterworth as a hub for creative and innovative cultural events.
It aligns with the Butterworth Baharu Regeneration Programme, initiated in 2015, focusing on revitalising Seberang Perai through arts, culture, and heritage activities.
Azhar Arshad emphasised the community-building aspect of BFF, saying, “The BFF platform serves as a unifying space for the community to embrace heritage, art and culture, transcending ethnic and religious backgrounds.”
This initiative contributes to Local Economic Development (LED), benefiting residents of Seberang Perai while contributing to Penang’s overall progress.
A diverse range of performances
Managed by TLM Event and endorsed by the Penang state government, this year’s BFF presented international cultural acts under The Street Art Festival concept. The program on December 16 and 17 featured a diverse range of performances with free admission for all attendees.
The Busker Stage showcased talents like Alessandra Azzaro from Italy, mesmerising the crowd with hula hoops and dance hits from the 90s.
Moises Ugidos Cedeno from Spain brought a classic Arabic style street show, while Cube Yi from Taiwan entertained with a captivating juggling performance. Yoltic Atzin Lopex from Mexico communicated emotions and stories through body movements.
Alessandra Azzaro, part of the TravieCircus Duo, expressed gratitude, stating, “We feel very glad to be part of one of the most recognized art festivals in Malaysia and the world.”
Cube Yi shared his excitement about engaging with a multicultural audience, saying, “Taiwan is as multicultural as Malaysia, and I look forward to meeting many more friends here.”
The Butterworth Fringe Festival continues to make a significant impact on the region, blending cultural enrichment with economic development.
The success of the 7th edition solidifies its role as a vital platform for artistic expression, fostering community unity and contributing to the vibrant transformation of Seberang Perai.
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