Abdul Karim signing the exhibition poster at the event witnessed by Chung (second left, in red) and others.
KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is committed to providing funding to institutions of higher learning for the purpose of research for arts and culture in the state.
He said he will continue to do so as long as he’s still holding the portfolio.
“I welcome institutions of higher learning to come to my office with their working papers and apply for funding if they’re doing research.
“As long as I’m still the minister I will approve it,” he said at the launching of Usungan Exhibition at Saradise Gallery last night.
This exhibition is jointly organized by Saradise Gallery and the Faculty of Applied & Creative Arts (FACA), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. It features a video presentation, art pieces and photographs by eight artists from UNIMAS on their study of Usungan – a dying art and valuable tradition of Sarawak.
He added that he was happy for the cooperation between Saradise and Unimas for the exhibition as it showcases the tradition to city folks and serves to help keep tradition alive for future generations.
Present at the event were Saradise group chief executive officer Datuk Chris Chung and exhibition curator Mohamad Faizuan Mat.