Chance for veteran, budding artists to showcase talents

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Juma’ani (third from right) and Abdul Wahab (right) admiring a cat.

Juma’ani (third from right) and Abdul Wahab (right) admiring a cat.

KUCHING: Veteran and budding artists will have the opportunity to showcase their talents through the Uptown Cat V competition on Aug 14 in conjunction with DBKU Smartheart Sarawak Cat Show 2016.

The competition will be held at Gallery A of the Cat Museum at the DBKU complex in Bukit Siol.

“The competition is a useful platform for local artists to showcase their talents to the community,” said Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) Datuk Bandar Datuk Abang Abdul Wahab Abang Julai at the prize-giving ceremony of ‘Live’ Cat Contest at Majma Complex here yesterday.

Among those present were Datin Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, wife of Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, acting DBKU director Kartina Zamhari, and senior managers of Smartheart/TLS Marketing Po Siok Choon and Goh Sey Lek.

The judges for the Uptown Cat V competition would be Ramsay Ong from Artrageously  Ramsay Ong Gallery and Aloysious Ho Boo Chiang and Lee Hock Kiar from Persatuan Pelukis Sarawak.

Apart from Smartheart/TLS, other agencies supporting the DBKU-organised competition are Kelab Kucing Sarawak, State Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, State Agriculture Department, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sarawak, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) and Lim Kok Wing University.

Abdul Wahab hoped more organisations would participate in DBKU’s programmes in future.

“I hope more government, private agencies, and individuals will contribute in kind or cash to sponsor the DBKU Sarawak Cat Show next year.”

The objectives of the show are to promote Kuching City as a tourist attraction, apart from encouraging city folk to keep cats as pets.

It is also aimed at creating greater public awareness on how best to keep cats at home and to promote Sarawak Cat Show at national and international levels.

Apart from Uptown Cat V competition, other highlights are Cat Bazaar, Cat Family Creative 3D Art Competition, ‘Live’ Cat Exhibition, Cats in Fancy Dress Show, Caged Cats Beautification Contest, Guessing the Weight of Cats competition, and Cat Dancing show.

At yesterday’s event, Kristi Putal, 22, emerged champion when her cat won the Sarawak Local Cat category in the ‘Live’ Cat Contest.