Kuala Lumpur, 5 June 2015 – After an outstanding inaugural outing last year, the Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival (YSDAF), is back with an even more exciting array of activities for the young and old.

From this August onwards, satellite shows will kick off the year long festivities along with a host of arts and cultural activities, gearing up for the mammoth YSDAF 2016 weekend finale on 20 and 21 August 2016.

Staying true to the objectives of the festival, the second edition of the YSDAF will continue to showcase the numerous and amazing local talents in the same down-to-earth settings with free admission for the public. This time around, there will be a few surprises with twists here and there, thrown into the mix.

Expect the unexpected with the 2016 edition themed Arts Education + Future which will stroll down memory lane and “time travel” to the future.

Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) Chairman YABhg. Tun Musa Hitam said the second installation of YSDAF will be a pioneering education-based arts festival which has never before been seen or done in Malaysia.

“The overwhelming response for the first YSDAF in 2014, with an attendance of over 15,000 people, has inspired us to up the ante of the arts festival several notches this time around. The combined theme of education and the arts will hopefully spur creative interpretations from artistes and art groups to showcase interesting mediums for the general public.”

He added, “YSD continuously strives to be a catalyst for the arts through festivals such as these, to nudge, reach out and provide a platform for Malaysia’s talents to showcase their work. We hope through our efforts, they will not only garner the support of locals but eventually and potentially, gain international recognition.

“The myth that the Arts would only interest a certain segment of our population has also been proven wrong through YSDAF. We have succeeded in bringing people from different walks of life and interests together to enjoy the different flavours of the arts!” he added.

The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre’s (klpac)’s Artistic Director Joe Hasham OAM and Executive Producer YBhg. Dato' Faridah Merican said: "Besides the many activities the team has lined up, this time, artistes will also have the chance to shape the programme. We are turning the tables with the introduction of Pitch Start, a platform to call for project ideas from artistes. We are now on the hunt for the brightest and most creative talents in Malaysia."

Artistes can submit their own interpretation of the festival theme in any language or genre through Pitch Start. Those shortlisted will get a chance to pitch their ideas to a panel. Winners will not only receive funding to bring their ideas to fruition but will have the chance to premiere it at the festival finale attended by the public. Application guidelines are available on www.klpac.org/ysdartsfest and the closing date for submission of proposals is 7 August 2015.

Ahead of the festival year in 2016, a trio of Satellite Shows will be taking place around Klang Valley.

Kicking off the one-year countdown this August and the first of the Satellite Shows is DAM Interactive’s fun spin on an age-old Malaysian fable. The brainchild of talented multimedia artist Fairuz Sulaiman, “Main Wayang: Hikayat Sang Kancil” brings storytelling to a whole new level by combining the “old and new” with the use of puppetry, animation, live music and acting.

Come October, the famed dancers from the Akademi Seni Kebangsaan dan Warisan Malaysia (ASWARA)’s Faculty of Dance take centre stage. Led by Dr Joseph Gonzales, the tireless visionary responsible for putting Malaysian dancers on the world map, the showcase will be nothing short of spectacular.

Finishing off the series in December 2015 will be the Best of Tropfest SEA film extravaganza in partnership with Joe Sidek Productions Sdn Bhd. The public will have the chance to watch some of the winning entries from the Tropfest SEA.

Like the first YSDAF 2014, all festival activities including the Satellite Shows will be free of charge and open to the public.

Presented by YSD and produced together with its partner klpac, the YSDAF is a Malaysian community project aimed at bringing the local arts scene to the fore and, at the same time, bringing the arts to the masses.

The Satellite Shows will be the start of a jam-packed festival year with other exciting events lined up. If the first festival in 2014 is anything to go by, arts lovers, regardless of age and creed, will be in for yet another magical treat.