Pentas Seni Merdeka 2023
Overview
The historic and institutional core of Kuala Lumpur has progressively lost its significance and physical upkeep, posing a significant opportunity for wider urban regeneration within the central area to improve dilapidated buildings and run down public spaces around the Dataran Merdeka precinct.
Drawing inspiration from cultural based urban regeneration examples globally combined with recommendations from the Kuala Lumpur Creative Cultural District (Strategic Masterplan), Think City in collaboration with DBKL launched Pentas Seni Merdeka as a convergence platform to advocate for equitable social spaces through arts and culture with combined effort to reignite vibrancy within the heritage core of the city.
Think City’s goal is to reposition the Downtown Kuala Lumpur area as an iconic attraction with a focus on culture, arts, heritage, creativity, and innovation. This includes securing, activating and rehabilitating existing assets while connecting to a broader network which stimulates new economic activity and improves liveability.
Set against the backdrop of the Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad complex, Pentas Seni Merdeka draws on the unique sense of place, connection, and appeal that aspires to elevate the refreshed efforts and spirit of revitalising Downtown KL area.
Impact
13,700
Total visitors
80%
Positive visitor experience
90%
Would like to see more arts & culture
60%
Demographic youth & young adults
66
Arts practitioners
129
Additional manpower
13,700
Total visitors
80%
Positive visitor experience
90%
Would like to see more arts & culture
60%
Demographic youth & young adults
66
Arts practitioners
129
Additional manpower
Activity Schedule
18 November 2023
| Time | Event | Venue | Description |
| 4:30PM – 7:00PM | Downtown KL Cycling Tour by MikeBikes | Starting/ending point: MikeBikes, Main Entrance, Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTIC)
Fee: RM30/pax |
Discover hidden gems to historical hotspots around Downtown KL through this local limited edition cycling tour in partnership with Think City. This edition of the tour on Saturday 18 November 2023 at 16:30 is held in conjunction with Pentas Seni Merdeka, a monthly public arts platform organized by Think City and DBKL at Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur.
Your booking provides you with experienced tourist guides who will take you through a city tour on wheels, participants will also receive a water bottle each, safety vest, and good quality Dutch bicycle for duration of the tour. Register here: Whatsapp: +60 17-673 7322 [admin] |
| 6:00PM – 9:00PM | Soap Bubble Art by Capten Buehbossa | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur | Together with Capten Buehbossa, a record holder of Guinness World Records to learn and play with the Art of Soap Bubbles. Learn to curate different techniques and styles of soap bubble patterns with the wonders and creativity in combining art and science! |
| 6:00PM – 6:45PM | Zapin Workshop | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur | Let’s learn the basic movements of Zapin Dance with Nusantara Performing Arts Centre (NusPARC).
In this workshop, you will learn:
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| 8:30PM – 9:00PM | Traditional Drumming with Amir Percussion | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur | Join us drumming with Amir Percussion using traditional Malay percussion instruments. Together tuning various types of instruments to create a special rhythmic harmony. Open to all, no experience necessary and you’re welcome to bring any kind of beat-making gear to have fun with us! |
| 6:00PM – 10:00PM | Arts & Crafts Workshop | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur | Join us for arts and crafts workshop to design your own Congkak on-the-go and Gasing with eco-friendly materials! |
| 6.00PM – 10.0PM | Ceramic Tile Painting Workshop | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur | Join us for a participative ceramic tile painting and carving workshop. |
| 6.00PM – 10.00PM | Art Pressed Workshop | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur | Unleash your inner creativity to design batik patterns using art pressed technique guided by Teacher Huda. |
| 9:00PM – 10:30PM | Mainstage Showcase | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur | Opening performance by DBKL Cultural Artistes & Cultural Combo followed by traditional dance performance, the Malay Zapin brought to you by Nusantara Performing Arts Centre (NusPARC) |
14 October 2023
| Time | Event | Venue | Description |
| 4:30PM – 7:00PM | Downtown KL Cycling Tour by MikeBikes | Starting/ending point: MikeBikes, Main Entrance, Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTIC)
Fee: RM30/pax |
Discover hidden gems to historical hotspots around Downtown KL through this local limited edition cycling tour in partnership with Think City. This edition of the tour on Saturday 14 October 2023 at 16:30 is held in conjunction with Pentas Seni Merdeka, a monthly public arts platform organized by Think City and DBKL at Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur.
Your booking provides you with experienced tourist guides who will take you through a city tour on wheels, participants will also receive a water bottle each, safety vest, and good quality Dutch bicycle for duration of the tour. Please note it is a requirement that all participants have basic cycling experience. The tour will cycle through narrow alleys and elevated pedestrian paths. This requires a certain balance, control, and self-confidence on the bicycle. Register here: Whatsapp: +60 17-673 7322 [admin] |
| 6:00PM – 10:00PM | Showcase & Costume Try-On | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur | Come and view the exquisite design & details of Chinese Opera costumes and exhibition by Teochew Puppet and Opera House. Visitors are also welcome to try-on the opera costumes and take photos to share this memorable experience. |
| 6:00PM – 10:00PM | Opera Mask Painting Workshop | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur | Participating in a hands-on art activity with Teochew Puppet and Opera House. Design your unique opera mask and create your own theatre character with various colors, materials, shapes and more! |
| 6:00PM – 10:00PM | Printmaking and Letterpress Workshop by The Lostprints Community | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur | The Lostprints community from Lostgens Artspace is bringing printmaking back to life by highlighting traditional printmaking techniques combined with contemporary concepts. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience traditional printing using antique machines used in the past. |
| 6:00PM – 10:00PM | Arts & Crafts Workshop | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur | A fun arts and crafts workshop for visitors to design traditional Chinese musical instruments using paper, cardboard and recycled materials. |
| 6.00PM – 6.30PM | Opera Workshop by Teochew Puppet & Opera House | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur | Join us for an engaging opera workshop led by Teochew Puppet & Opera House director Ling Goh. Participants will be guided through basic opera theatrical movements, learn about the music and even work with opera props during this session! |
| 6.30PM – 7.15PM | Drum Circle by 1Drum | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur | Join 1Drum Circle for this one-of-a-kind musical jam! With drums of all shapes and sizes, 1Drum Circle is a great way to meet like-minded people, have fun and reconnect with your inner rhythm. Bring along your musical instruments, dancing shoes, flow toys and join us as we drum together. No drumming experience necessary! |
| 7:30PM – 9:00PM | Stories, Culture & Identity through Food by Kembara Stories | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur | Kembara Stories is a pilot initiative that hopes to share stories through cuisine of migrant communities from Nepal, Philippines, Indonesia and Bangladesh. The initiative brings food, identity and culture together to celebrate diversity within Downtown KL.
In conjunction with Pentas Seni Merdeka, we will have a sharing session by Nadia along with Bangladeshi cuisine served from Dhaka Briyani House. Dhaka Briyani House – Bangladeshi (Halal)
This event is for ages 18 and above with limited capacity. To secure your participation, kindly fill in the Google form. Top 20 most compelling queries submitted will be selected. Register here: WhatsApp: +6016 221 4552 (Kevin) |
| 9:00PM – 10:30PM | Mainstage Showcase | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur | Opening performance by DBKL Cultural Artists & Cultural Combo, followed by Music and Teochew Opera performance brought to you by Teochew Puppet & Opera House. |
9 September 2023
| Time | Event | Venue | Description |
| 6:00PM – 9:00PM | Creative Kuala Lumpur Urban Challenge Finalists | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja Kuala Lumpur | Creative Kuala Lumpur Urban Challenge
Since June 2023, over 70 participants have taken on the Creative KL Urban Challenge. Innovators, communities, and entrepreneurs developed their most creative solutions to address the most pressing urban issues in Downtown KL today. Come and meet the top 8 finalists and vote for the solutions you believe will revitalise our city centre. More details: https://challenge.thinkcity.com.my/en/ |
| 6:00PM – 10:00PM | Arts & Crafts Workshop | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja Kuala Lumpur | Join us for arts and crafts workshops open to all ages that will bring out the creative making and imagination in all of us! |
| 6:00PM – 6:30PM | Magunatip Workshop by DBKL Dance Crew | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja Kuala Lumpur | A participative workshop to try the energising Magunatip artform. |
| 6:30PM – 7:15PM | Feathers of North Borneo | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja Kuala Lumpur | Creative ethnic performance workshop by Rithaudin Abdul Kadir, Darling Marlena, Hannah & Elena Moujing, Fredolin Anson & Tagaps Dance Theatre.
A performance workshop in collaboration with Sesi Tikar Mengkuang exploring background and techniques of Sabah Ethnic dances inspired by bird-like movements. |
| 6:30PM – 10:00PM | Borneo Cultural Blowpipe Activity | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja Kuala Lumpur | Interactive demonstration of the traditional blowpipe. |
| 9:00PM – 10:30PM | Mainstage Showcase | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja Kuala Lumpur | Opening performance by DBKL Cultural Artistes & Cultural Combo and showcase by Alena Murang & Malaysia’s National Living Heritage, Mathew Ngau Jau, from Sarawak. |
19 August 2023
| Time | Event | Venue | Description |
| 4:30PM – 7:30PM | East-West Connection Walk (Tales of Sultans, Chinese Kapitans and Colonial Times) | Starting point: Cosmo Hotel, Kuala Lumpur | Discover the rich heritage of Kuala Lumpur’s colonial quarter through the East-West Connection walking tour by Free Walk Kuala Lumpur Unscripted. The walk will start at Cosmo Hotel, located at one of the historic dirt roads of old Kuala Lumpur, and include highlights such as meeting with a surviving 4th generation Chinese traditional herbs trader and viewing the interior of Panggung Bandaraya which is steeped in history.
Register for the tour at: https://eastwestconnectionwalk2-thinkcity.eventbrite.com FULLY BOOKED |
| 5:00PM – 6:00PM | Workshop: The Art & Culture of Gambus – Jom Petik Gambus by Rumah Gambus | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja Kuala Lumpur | The Gambus interactive workshop introduces the enchanted world of the gambus, a traditional stringed instrument with tremendous cultural and historical significance. The session will be facilitated by Raja Zulkarnain from Rumah Gambus of Pertubuhan Gambus Malaysia.
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| 5:00PM – 10:30PM | Workshop Arts & Craft by Cikgu Huda | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja Kuala Lumpur | Join us for an interactive Arts & Craft Workshop with Cikgu Huda that will bring out the creative making and imagination in all of us! |
| 5:00PM – 10:30PM | Activity Sand Art and Face Painting | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja Kuala Lumpur | Join us for fun activities like Face Painting and create your very own colourful Sand Art works to take home! |
| 6:00PM – 7:00PM | Workshop: Barongan Seni Reog by PUSAKA & Kumpulan Sri Wahyuni | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja Kuala Lumpur | The Barongan Seni Reog participative workshop introduces the fundamentals of Jathilan and Bujang Ganong dance. Pauline Fan, Creative Director of PUSAKA, will facilitate the workshop along with dancers of Kumpulan Sri Wahyuni. The session is open to the public to participate. |
| 9:00PM – 10:30PM | Mainstage Showcase: DBKL Cultural Artistes & Cultural Combo and Barongan Seni Reog by Kumpulan Sri Wahyuni | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja Kuala Lumpur | Performance by DBKL Cultural Artistes & Cultural Combo.
Barongan Seni Reog Performance by Kumpulan Sri Wahyuni brought to you by PUSAKA. |
22 July 2023
| Time | Event | Venue | Description |
| 4:30PM – 7:30PM | East-West Connection Walk (Tales of Sultans, Chinese Kapitans and Colonial Times) | Starting point: Cosmo Hotel, Kuala Lumpur | Discover the rich heritage of Kuala Lumpur’s tales of Sultans, Chinese Kapitans, and Colonial times through the East-West Connection walking tour by Free Walk Kuala Lumpur Unscripted. Experience the city’s diverse culture and immerse yourself in its fascinating origins. Register for the tour at: https://eastwestconnectionwalk-thinkcity.eventbrite.com FULLY BOOKED |
| 6:00PM – 7:00PM | Workshop: Basic Introduction to Mak Yong Dance and Music: Rebab Facing | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja Kuala Lumpur | Join us for a workshop on the dance and music of the Mak Yong art organised by Kumpulan Mak Yong Cahaya Matahari brought to you by PUSAKA.
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| 6:00PM – 10:30PM | Workshop: Canting Batik by Ainna Artwork | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja Kuala Lumpur | Learn simple batik techniques through this workshop. Open to all ages. |
| 6:00PM – 10:30PM | Workshop: Wayang Kulit Kelantan | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja Kuala Lumpur | Always wanted to know how to make your own wayang kulit (shadow puppet)? Join us for this workshop! |
| 9:00PM – 10:30PM | Cultural Performances: Galok Berdikir & Mak Yong Kelantan | Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja Kuala Lumpur | Galok Berdikir performance by DBKL’s Cultural Artists & Cultural Combo.
Mak Yong Kelantan Performance by Kumpulan Mak Yong Cahaya Matahari brought to you by PUSAKA. |