Penang: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), through the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN), is hosting the sixth edition of the Living Arts Cultural Festival 2025 (LACF 2025) to showcase and preserve Malaysia's endangered cultural heritage.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the festival is being held in collaboration with the Penang state government and the National Pancha Seniloka Association, running from Oct 3 to 6 at Armenian Street. JKKN director-general Mohd Amran Mohd Haris highlighted that LACF 2025 features more than 27 traditional performances, including endangered arts like Makyung, Mayin Jo'oh, and Sinding Mansayau, from 10 countries such as Malaysia, Bulgaria, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea. The event was officially opened by Penang Governor Tun Ramli Ngah Talib, with MOTAC Secretary-General Datuk Shaharudin Abu Sohot and Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow present.
Mohd Amran explained that George Town was selected as the festival's location due to its United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage status and Armenian Street's reputation as a vibrant arts hub and tourist attraction. The biennial festival's theme, Sustainability of Cultural Heritage, emphasizes intangible heritage recognized by UNESCO, national heritage, as well as endangered arts needing urgent preservation.
The festival's highlights include cultural performances, parades, craft exhibitions and sales, lantern displays, and a Malaysian breakfast featuring UNESCO-recognized dishes. There are also digital dialogues and workshops held with Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). Mohd Amran stated that the festival aims to transform audiences into inheritors and promoters of the arts through interactive demonstrations and community engagement designed to bring the arts closer to society and inspire younger generations to appreciate the nation's cultural treasures.
The festival is expected to attract between 30,000 and 40,000 visitors, including international tourists, over its three-day duration.