The Rainforest Fringe Festival wrapped up its first press conference on May 14^th at the Old Courthouse, launching its new programme in July 5 to 11.

The programme includes events like the ‘Asas Melayu’, which will feature the intricate beauty of Sarawak Keringkam and Songket, which is the Malay tradition of textiles stitched or woven with gold thread, in a fashion show with designs by acclaimed designers like Datuk Seri Bernard Chandran and Sarawak’s own Datuk Tom Abang Saufi, as well as Tanoti House of Kuching.

Also featured will be the Indigenous Film Festival Kuching, showcasing the indigenous culture of Sarawak, along with events like the tattoo exhibition ‘INK Kuching’, and the Song to the Earth which displays the dying art of Kayan song-poetry known as Parap.

The CEO of Sarawak Tourism Board, Sharzede Datu Hj Salleh Askor said that “We are proud to showcase that Sarawak can be a hub of music tourism, unique cultural and arts experiences, and world-class festivals that are the best in the region. Rainforest Fringe Festival will showcase music, arts, crafts, photography, food and culture, both local and foreign, throughout Kuching City.

Sharzede added that the RFF is aiming to become a major cultural event in the region for expanding Sarawak’s repertoire as a music tourism destination, bringing attention to the state’s potential not only as festival location but as a destination that sees cultural preservation as one of its priorities.

The RFF is a prelude to the Rainforest World Music Festival on July 12-14 and Borneo Jazz Festival on July 19-21

For more information on the Rainforest Fringe Festival, log on to their website here.

This year, the Rainforest World Music Festival will feature #UrBins (Urban + Bins).

This series of attractive and practical recycling bins designed by a group of local artists.

Submissions will be open to those currently residing in Sarawak until the end of RWMF2019 in July 2019, including international students and expatriates.

Each submission will include 2 design concepts, each with a separate description on how the design ties in with the United Nation’s “Sustainable Development Goal” (SDG) 11; which is to “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”.

Designs will be posted publicly through an applicant’s Facebook post, where they must tag @Spativate, @SarawakTravel and @rwmf.official, as well as hashtag #UrBins, #RWMF2019 #BinsPlease and #MoreSarawak.

The design’s ‘promotion and submission’ phase will aid in educating the public on the SDG while promoting sustainability through creative design, and on the days of the Festival, the attractive designs of the bins will also help in drawing attention to their purpose and importance.

The 15 UrBinists will be short listed by a professional jury before their designs will be presented to the public to vote through Facebook, and the selected designs will be supplied green bins and seed money of RM300 to make their designs a reality.

For more information on submission, please visit the Spativate Facebook page here…

During the Borneo Jazz Talent Search that took place at Coco Cabana, Miri on April 30th, founder of No Black Tie Evelyn Hii Yuh Lin, announced that there will be an extension to the date of the talent search audition till the end of May, finalists will be announced on first week of June.

The finalists from the Talent Search will go to the final round on July 19, while the official winners will receive a cash prize and the chance to perform on the Borneo Jazz stage.

The Borneo Jazz Talent Search was first held in 2018, while the DJ Talent Search is a new category, as part of the Festival’s musical outreach programme aimed at unearthing young and emerging artists from the Bornean region.

Fringe activities curated around Borneo Jazz Festival include an art exhibition, arts & crafts showcase, stalls with Bornean cuisine, wellness and sape’ sessions as well as workshops on indigenous culture.

This year, the festival is organised by No Black Tie, who have made it their objective to emphasise on the social responsibility towards recycling within the local community via the Borneo Jazz Beat Plastic Campaign.

The Borneo Jazz Festival is one of the longest running festivals in the region, this year being the 14th edition taking place from July 19 to 21 at Coco Cabana and is owned by Sarawak Tourism Board.