Bigger & Better

The 9th JB Arts Festival promises to be bigger and better

Eighty performances, 4 art exhibitions, 4 competitive events, 7 workshops and loads of fun activities are lined up in the month-long 9^th Johor Baru Arts Festival.  The much anticipated annual JB Arts Fest will be held from 1 to 29 September, again in the grounds of Johor’s iconic Sultan Ibrahim Building at Bukit Timbalan.  While most of the events will be held at the Bukit Timbalan Festival Village, the wider scale and variety of shows in this year’s fest will see performances staged at various locations including Danga Bay, the Johor Baru Indoor Stadium and Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk.

Tan Sri Dato Shahrir Abdul Samad and
event co-sponsors released bunches of
balloons at the event launch

At the official launch of the 9^th JB Arts Fest on 5 August, patron and Member of Parliament for JB, Tan Sri Dato Shahrir Abdul Samad, said that the arts festival will inject more life and soul into JB and is an important element in increasing the city’s profile and establishing it as a truly developed city.  

Now in its 9^th year, the JB Arts Fest is the longest running arts fest in Malaysia that encompasses all disciplines of performing arts including music, dance, theatre, comedy, film and visual arts.  With the rapid development of Iskandar Malaysia, JB is transforming into an international metropolis and the arts fest is an excellent platform for Johoreans to develop into a civil society who can appreciate the arts. 

“Becoming a developed city is not just in terms of buildings, skyscrapers and infrastructure but also about the development of the citizens to appreciate the finer things in life, such as culture and the arts,” he said.  He went on to invite the public to support and participate in the festival not only by attending the exciting shows but also by taking part in the workshops and fun activities in the calendar of events that involves local, international, educational and interactive elements. 

“We believe that everyone – from all walks of life – can appreciate the arts and in line with this year’s slogan, “This is not just a festival, this is who we are” the JB Arts Fest has such a diverse array of performances,” he said. 

Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad speaking at the event launch
Press Conference

“We fully support the JB Arts Fest because the appreciation of the arts is part of Iskandar Malaysia’s economic and social expansion development not only in bringing in investors but also in improving the quality of life in Iskandar Malaysia,” said Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA). 

He is pleased that the arts fest is organized by people who are passionate about the arts and at an even higher standard this year. 



“The JB Arts Fest is putting Johor Baru on the national and international map and IRDA is pleased to be involved in the arts fest not only this year but also in the years to come,” he added. 

Over the years, the JB Arts Fest has seen more local and overseas performers seeking to be associated with the annual arts festival.  From professional artistes performing Japanese drums, traditional Sri Lankan dances, Canadian electronic musicians to student performers from the School of Communication & Creative Arts KDU University College, there is truly something for everyone in the 9^th JB Arts Fest.  For more details, the calendar of shows and tickets, visit www.jbartsfest.com and the JB Arts Festival Facebook page.  Tel: 6019 - 716 9900 and 6019 - 713 9900.

A version of this article was published in The New Straits Times, Johor Streets on 13 August 2012