KOTA KINABALU: The 7th Kota Kinabalu Jazz Festival (KKJF), which kicked off last night, has received a RM100,000 sponsorship from Yayasan Sime Darby.
Yayasan Sime Darby yesterday announced the sponsorship of the popular festival jointly organised by the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu (RCKK) and the Society of Performing Arts Kota Kinabalu Sabah (SPArKS).
The sponsorship is in line with the Yayasan Sime Darby’s guidelines under the arts and culture pillar to promote programmes that benefit the development of arts and culture amongst the diverse multicultural society of Malaysia and to foster the development of artistic talents among the young and old alike.
The sponsorship covers the festival expenses including fees for artistes and performances, logistics expenses as well as marketing and promotion costs.
During the press conference before the event started yesterday, Yayasan Sime Darby governing council member Datin Paduka Zaitoon Datuk Othman praised the organizers of KKJF, calling the event a celebration of diversity through music as this year would see the inclusion of bands from as far as Canada, Italy, Australia and the Philippines.
“KKJF is everything a good music festival should be and more. Aside from being a place for like-minded fans to gather and be entertained over the course of two nights, KKJF is also a place where new local talents are born, providing them with a launchpad that will catapult them to international audiences and stardom,” she said.
Zaitoon added that establishments such as hoteliers as food and beverages outlets also looked to KKJF as a ‘scouting’ ground for local acts to hire to entertain guests at their premises.
“Events such as KKJF also contribute to the tourism of Kota Kinabalu, which is already famous among tourists for its eco-tourism, environmental and cultural heritage which are unique to this part of the world,” said Zaitoon.
The event organizer also ensures that at least 40 per cent of KKJF’s performers are Sabahans to give the event a more definitive, localised flavour.
Continue reading at: RM100,000 Yayasan Sime Darby sponsorship for KK Jazz Festival
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