Proud heritage: Dayak cultural musicians (from left) Lian Balan, Aren Lirai and Salomon Gau performing during the inaugural MYY Living Arts UnConference and Festival.
PETALING JAYA: Winning the Star Golden Hearts Award catapulted Tuyang Initiative into both the national and international spotlight, opening doors for Dayak arts and culture.
Founded in 2017 by Juvita Tatan Wan and her father John Wan Usang, the Miri-based social enterprise has worked with organisations nationwide and also partners from South-East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and many more.
Tuyang Initiative has also grown to include full-time staff, comprising young people with Dayak background.
“It is important that we train and grow more young leaders in the space of arts management, particularly in relation to our cultural heritage,” Juvita said in an interview.
Late last year, Tuyang Initiative launched a gallery and studio − Alter/Space − providing a permanent space for everyone to learn about Dayak arts and culture.
The gallery not only showcases traditional art but also hosts various cultural events and activities.
Reflecting on the past year, Juvita highlighted the inaugural MYY Living Arts UnConference and Festival, which brought together artistes from across Borneo.
“It was an opportunity for us on the island to have discourse... unique to our people and island,” she said.
Juvita hopes that the event will help to foster a better understanding of Sarawak and Sabah cultures among those from the peninsula.
“We hope that by spending time with us in east Malaysia, there will be a better understanding of who we are by listening to our challenges or aspirations.
“It will create greater opportunities for meaningful representation and collaborations in the future,” she added.
Another significant milestone for Tuyang Initiative was curating art for a large multinational company’s new office, a project that was very well-received.
“We worked with over 30 indigenous artisans from Sabah, Sarawak and the Orang Asli in peninsular Malaysia, as well as contemporary artists,” said Juvita.
Over the years, Tuyang Initiative, a community-led arts management company, has impacted many cultural practitioners through art curation projects, cultural consultations, and others.
Education is also a key focus, with the team running talks, classes and workshops on cultural crafts, music and dance.
However, no social enterprise is without its challenges, Juvita said, highlighting that financials are a consistent hurdle.
“It has been challenging looking for or getting opportunities for jobs or projects, especially because we’re a small team.
“We’ve been challenged in terms of getting loans from financial institutions to help with our operational expenses,” she said.
A recent setback for the team was the cancellation of their performance at the World Music and Dance Festival in Japan.
The team could not raise enough funds to fly 18 performers there.
Nonetheless, Tuyang Initiative faces the future with optimism and has reserved unused funds for the next potential international festival to showcase their work.
Juvita also urged organisations based in Peninsular Malaysia to reach out for activities targeting the Sarawak and Sabah demographic.
“We hope that they engage and work with us.
“That way, not only will you get true representation and genuine insight, you will also be supporting the growth of the industry and economy,” she said.
Tuyang Initiative won the Star Golden Hearts Award in 2018, which has greatly helped the organisation gain visibility.
“The work is hard but being seen helps,” Juvita added.
Running for the 10th year since 2015, the Star Golden Hearts Award is an annual award by The Star that celebrates everyday Malaysians who make a positive impact on society while promoting unity among the people.
For more details, visit www.sgha.com.my
