KUCHING – The seventh edition of the WAK Festival was officially launched on Sunday at Pengkalan Sapi, igniting a month-long celebration of Sarawak’s arts, culture, and community spirit.
The 2025 festival, which runs from October 1 to 31, has adopted the new theme “We Are Kindred” (WAK), signifying a rebranding from its original “What About Kuching” name to reflect a greater unity and its expansion to other cities.
The launch was officiated by Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, who represented the Premier of Sarawak.
In a speech delivered on the Premier’s behalf, he characterised the festival as a dynamic platform that reflects Sarawak’s creative identity and collaborative spirit.
He emphasised that the event is a community-driven movement that gives voice to the state’s artists, musicians, and cultural custodians.
The state government has reaffirmed its support for the creative economy, with the Premier noting that investment in the WAK Festival is a direct investment in the ‘Sarawak Brand’.
The government’s commitment is further demonstrated by the allocation of RM174 million to the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts in the Sarawak Budget 2025, with RM45 million dedicated specifically to events and festivals.
This year’s festival programme features over 100 events across more than 40 venues in Kuching, including art exhibitions, theatre performances, workshops, and music gigs.
The launch event itself, a cultural showcase titled ‘Celebrating Us’, transformed the venue with a vibrant display of unity.
The festival also expands beyond Kuching, with satellite events in Sibu and Miri, reinforcing its inclusive “By the Community, For the Community” ethos.
The WAK Festival is seen as a creative engine helping to drive the aspirations of Sarawak’s Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which focuses on economic prosperity, social inclusivity, and environmental sustainability.
