KUALA LUMPUR: In its efforts to show appreciation for artistic individuals among the disabled community, Malaysian Artistes' Association (Karyawan) is organising Arts Festival For The Handicapped Community (Festival Seni Insan Istimewa) on Oct 30 at KL Gateway Mall here.
The festival will involve various events which will see the participation of individuals with disabilities, with a focus on activities involving arts and culture such as performances and competitions.
"The initiative to organise this festival came from some members of the Handicapped Artistes' Division of Karyawan which consists of more than 100 individuals," said Karyawan president Datuk Freddie Fernandez, who is also the composer of the 1982 hit tune Namun Ku Punya Hati, an iconic song for this group of special people.
He added that among activities lined up include "Idola Istimewa" competition, band competition, cooking competition, painting and light sports which would be held free of charge and open to all disabled people from all categories such as visually impaired, hearing and speech impaired, members of the spastic community, and autistic artistes.
"In the evening there will be a special concert that will feature special talents and popular artistes such as Caliph Buskers, Bad of Indigo fame, Zaiton Sameon, Azmir Arif, Datuk Yusni Hamid, Radhi Khalid, and Rozita Rohaizad.
"We are very grateful for the help from the Ministry Of Tourism, Arts and Culture who provided the Cultural Sector Matching Grant (GSSK) 2022 to make the event a reality," he said at the launch of the festival at KL Gateway Mall which is also the venue sponsor for the event, today.
"We would also like to thank our strategic partners such as the Federal Territories
Foundation especially the Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim for donating towards this programm."
Other significant bodies supporting the festival include the Social Welfare Department (JKM), Industrial Training and Rehabilitation Center (PLPP Bangi), SWATV, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Malaysian Association For The Blind, OCBC.
OKU Sentral president Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi also gave her full support to the event through the provision of participants and exhibition booths.