YSDAF 2025 celebrates a decade of arts with nationwide tour

The Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival (YSDAF) is making a grand return in 2025 to celebrate its 10-year anniversary with a renewed commitment to inclusivity and accessibility in the arts. With the theme Community Side by Side, this milestone edition is set to break new ground with an expanded format that brings the festival to various communities across Peninsular Malaysia.

Presented by Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) and The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac), with support from Sime Darby Berhad, SD Guthrie Berhad, Sime Darby Property Berhad, and, for the first time, the MADANI Government under Belanjawan 2025, YSDAF 2025 promises a dynamic programme of performances, workshops, and creative experiences. The festival will officially kick off in February and continue throughout the year.

Y.A.M. Tunku Tan Sri Imran Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Ja’afar, Chairman of YSD, highlighted the significance of this expansion, stating, “We are truly excited to be going on our first-ever YSDAF tour around Peninsular Malaysia – from the North to the South, and East to the West.”

Bringing the Arts to Every Corner of Malaysia

For the first time in its decade-long history, YSDAF will travel beyond the Klang Valley, making the arts more accessible to Malaysians in both rural and urban settings. The festival will make 10 stops across the country, including locations in Kedah, Pahang, Selangor, Melaka, Johor, and Kuala Lumpur.

This decentralised approach aligns with the festival’s mission to break down barriers and ensure that art is for everyone. “Like before, there will be a variety of offerings, from the traditional to the contemporary, dance to theatre. YSDAF 2025 sends a strong message and is not just about showcasing the arts but about driving home that the arts belong to all Malaysians,” said Dato’ Dr Faridah Merican, Executive Producer of klpac and YSDAF.

With over 130 arts activities planned, each location will host a tailored mix of performances and workshops, creating opportunities for local communities to engage with professional artists. Additionally, YSDAF 2025 will generate over 1,000 jobs for arts practitioners, reinforcing its role in both cultural and economic growth.

Theatre and Workshops for Rural Communities

One of the most anticipated segments of YSDAF 2025 is the Kampung Tour, which will take place from April through May in seven rural locations. This initiative will allow Malaysians outside major urban centres to experience a wide range of artistic performances and workshops.

Among the highlights is the premiere of “Dollah”, a Bahasa Malaysia play written by Arsyad Azrai and directed by Christopher Ling. The play tells the story of a school headmaster through the eyes of his son, offering a poignant narrative about education and leadership. Additionally, audiences will have the opportunity to witness an educational theatre showcase by the KL Shakespeare Players.

Beyond performances, festival-goers can participate in hands-on activities such as drum-making using recycled materials, traditional and modern dance workshops by ASK Dance Company (ADC), and interactive storytelling sessions. Ceritaku, a unique human library initiative, will capture real-life stories from community members and transform them into a stage performance during the Urban Tour, further bridging rural and urban artistic expressions.

A Creative Hub in the City

From June onwards, the festival will transition into its Urban Tour at three key locations: KL East Mall, PARC, and Elmina Lakeside Mall. Urban audiences can look forward to an array of performances and interactive workshops that bring the essence of the Kampung Tour into city spaces.

Notable highlights include three site-specific works commissioned exclusively for YSDAF 2025, as well as the launch of Pitch Start, an initiative designed to support artists from marginalised communities, including Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). An open call for Pitch Start submissions will be announced soon, offering opportunities for emerging talents to present their work on a larger platform.

The festival will culminate in August at Elmina Lakeside Mall with a grand finale featuring diverse performances, from street theatre for children to live music acts. The event will also maintain its eco-friendly focus with Ecozone booths, allowing visitors to engage in sustainable art practices.

As the only Malaysian arts festival whose crew undergoes Disability Equality Training (DET) and Disability Related Services Training (DRST), YSDAF 2025 remains committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible environment for all.

Since its inception in 2014, YSDAF has provided nearly 1,500 free arts activities to over 63,000 Malaysians. With its expanded format in 2025, the festival aims to inspire even more people to embrace the arts as a unifying and transformative force.

For more information, visit www.ysdartsfestival.com.my or follow YSDAF on social media for updates.