IMH Sarawak Arts & Culture Centre officially opens
- BT
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
KUCHING, 26 August 2026: The brand-new International Music House (IMH) Sarawak Arts and Culture Centre (SACC) was officially opened today by Deputy Minister for Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Datuk Snowdan Lawan, marking a historic opening of a space where communities can come together to learn, perform, exchange ideas and work collectively towards the preservation, making and development of quality ethnic and cultural activities.
A collaborative initiative involving IMH, Malaysian Ethnic Ornamental World (MEOW), Shangyin Music Centre, Persatuan Orkestra Tradisional Remaja Sarawak (POTRES) and Kuching In and Out (KINO), SACC is established as a platform for communities, especially children and young people, to learn about Sarawak’s diverse music, ethnic musical instruments and cultural heritage.
Located along Lorong Bayor Bukit No.8A in Tabuan Jaya, Kuching, SACC’s key purposes include preserving Sarawak’s musical heritage, providing learning opportunities for the younger generation, support the making of traditional instruments, encouraging performance and collaboration, supporting inclusive skills development, encouraging continued research, development and cultural exchange as well as connecting Sarawak to the world.
“Besides preserving and promoting the rich musical heritage of Sarawak, the centre also provides opportunities for students with special needs, including autistic students, to learn practical skills and musical knowledge, so they can become skilled at it, and earn themselves a living in the future,” said IMH Executive Director, Dr. Geraldine Law Lee in her welcoming speech.
“As of today, a total of 34 ethnic groups are officially recognised by the state - each of them with their own musical traditions and instruments, reflecting Sarawak’s rich cultural heritage. The establishment of the centre will hopefully instil a sense of deeper appreciation and interest among the younger generation towards music, musical instruments and Sarawak’s cultural heritage, and is an important step towards the formation of a larger music centre,” said Datuk Snowdan Lawan in his officiating speech.
“The ministry will continue to support arts, culture and creative industries, and we hope initiatives such as this will keep Sarawak’s ethnic music, instrument making, traditions and cultural knowledge alive not only in Kuching, but throughout the state. At the same time, I hope the centre will continue to draw the world to Sarawak, opening their doors to visitors, researchers and cultural enthusiasts alike.” he continued.
Also present at today’s opening ceremony, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP), Morshidi Fredrick, Special Administrative Officer from MTCP, Datu Dr. Rashidah binti Hj Bolhassan, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Majlis Seni Sarawak, Awang Ikhman bin Sepian, Founder and CEO of KINO Magazine, Marian Chin, POTRES Founder, Narawi Rashidi, representatives from Shangyin Music Centre, Yap Ting and Albert Chin as well as IMH Managing Director, Grace Law-Chew and IMH Director of Operations, Florida Law.
