#YSDAF2018
Causes

This year, Malaysia’s largest free-for-all festival, Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival (YSDAF) 2018 is back- and it’s all about You, Me + The Arts. As the theme suggests, inclusivity is a central theme of #YSDAF2018. Together, we will explore issues faced by a diverse range of communities, such as disabled people, the underprivileged, the marginalised, and more.

 

Here’s a sneak peek into the causes you’ll see at #YSDAF2018:


Causes

HEALTH

Allow your body to connect and heal your mind with a dance movement psychotherapy workshop titled The Body Never Lies, taught by registered Dance Movement Psychotherapist Janet Moo. Learn to explore your subconscious through movement, for a more integrated sense of self.

If you prefer to get your hands dirty, join our Expressive Painting workshop by Humankind. Engage in an activity of process painting which enables you to discover yourself and become a more purposeful, connected and confident individual.

For other heath-related causes, check out Cancer Research Malaysia as they conduct workshops and engagement activities to explore new discoveries and meaningful findings from scientific research; and Persatuan SLE Malaysia‘s booth as they sell handicrafts made by people living with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Visit both booths to learn more about these diseases and how we can support their causes.

 

Expressive
Painting Workshop

Dance Movement
Psychotherapy for
Mental Health:
The Body Never Lies

Colours For Hope
by Cancer Research
Malaysia


Causes

DISABILITY AWARENESS

Visit UNICEF’s #ThisAbility Truck, which travels around the country spreading messages on inclusion and the rights of children with disabilities. Join Dance Movement Psychotherapist Janet Moo as she conducts a workshop titled Dance Movement Therapy for Special Needs: Relate!, designed especially for special needs participants. 

Our exhibitions, Barriers by Peter Tan and Seeing Through My Songs by Victor Chin will also help you ponder on the struggles and livelihood of disabled communities. Join Peter Tan’s workshop, Disability Equality Training — catered for ages 13 to 18, or 18 and above —to learn how you can create positive environments for our disabled friends.

Here are other activities you can check out under Disability Awareness: Pitch Start’s Subject Y by Chin Wen Yen, Creative Commons 2018: Art Takeover – Deria by ICAD, Introductory Sign Language Workshop, How to Assist the Blind Workshop, Opening Performance, Sensory Photography Workshop, and Art Beyond the Canvas by Janet Lee.

 

UNICEF’S
#ThisAbility
Truck

Disability
Equality Training

Barriers Exhibit

Dance Movement
Therapy for Special Needs:
Relate!

Seeing Through
My Songs Exhibit


Zapin
Workshop

Sounds & Sights
Of The Orang Ulu
Exhibit

Tarian Ngajat
Workshop

Introduction to
Gamelan

Chinese
Calligraphy
Workshop

Chinese Fan
Dance Workshop

Batik
Workshop


Causes

AUTISM

Join the Snacks and Beading Workshop hosted by Project Heart in collaboration with Autism Cafe Project Malaysia to help raise awareness and empower youths with autism.

Other fun activities includes the Ned Dickens Author Talk, where autistic comic artist Andi Miranti shares about his inspiration behind his book series. Pair these activities with music to your ears by the NASOM Maestros and Keith Tan or watch Redha, a film about the struggles of raising a disabled child.

 

Redha
Film Screening

Keith Tan

NASOM
Maestros

Ned Dickens
Author Talk

Snacks &
Beading Workshop


Causes

HIV / AIDS

Watch the film screening of Top 3 Winners of Indivior Red Ribbon Short Film Competition, and explore the stigmas surrounding HIV and AIDS victims. A new and improved Adam The Musical! returns after almost a decade after its first premiere, following the characters on a journey to find love, acceptance, and the courage to hope, dream and believe again.

 

ADAM!
The Musical

Top 3 Winners Of
Indivior Red Ribbon
Short Film Competition
Film Screening


Causes

WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Feast your eyes and soul on a Bharathanatyam piece,  Lipstick! by Kamini Manikam, which uniquely revolves around gender equality. Couple that with Skin and Flowers: In Tend(er), which explores themes surrounding femininity, masculinity, and queerness in relation to one’s body.

Don’t forget to arm yourself with more knowledge on this subject matter by joining Women’s Aid Organisation’s Gender Equality Workshop which will help you grasp the concept and challenges surrounding the fight for gender equality throughout our society.

Gender Equality
Workshop

Skin & Flowers:
In Tend(er)

LIPSTICK!
by Kamini Manikam


Causes

SOCIAL ISSUES

Explore The Tikar Project by Ashwaniy Sambasbang as she showcases design solutions on traditional floor mats to cater towards the homeless in Malaysia. Essentially, each of these floor mats would serve as a temporary and convenient portable shelter for our homeless friends.

Make sure to swing by these other activities to learn more about various social issues: Q&A by Patrick TeohLife Sdn Bhd: Issues, Adiwiraku Film Screening, Dreams by IDEAS Academy, Rainbow of Desire Workshop, and Rasa.

 

The Tikar
Project


Causes

ANIMAL CONSERVATION

Take part in Anak Rimba “Friends of the Forest” Workshop that is open to parents and children to create a beautiful forest of Anak Rimba animals & friends, with characters from the book, Why Don’t I Look Like You?. There will also be a storytelling session with the authors of the book as they share the tale of “Timo” the Tapir.

Through the story, the creators, Abyan Junus-Nishizawa and Farah Landemaine, hope to give endangered Asian animals a centre stage and cultivate a nature-loving community.

 

Anak Rimba
Friends of the Forest
Workshop


Click here for more information on the line-up of causes we have at #YSDAF2018, and follow our Facebook and Instagram pages for latest news and updates from the festival.