Community Based Arts & Culture Workers in Malaysia

Languages spoken: 

English

Based in community: 

Yes 

Target age groups: 

Youth aged 18 above and young adults

Women

Ethnic group

Mixed 

Mission/ Personal Statement: 

A professional working artist and teacher who writes and performs performance poetry solo and in ensemble; and develops, designs and hosts spoken word events.

“I teach spoken word and poetry slam in secondary schools across Malaysia (and) am in the midst of developing a Malaysian inter school poetry slam...I also use Theatre of the Oppressed practices in my speech and drama work with schools and other communities. As a volunteer with Fallen Leaves (a Batu Arang based community who use theatre and arts, specifically Theatre of the Oppressed (T.O.T.O.), I have worked with recovering drug addicts and people living with HIV and AIDS, HIV orphans and Myanmar refugees focusing on issues like gender and gender violence, English as a second language, peer pressure and addiction. …Again, using drama and theatre, I ran an anti-homophobia invisible theatre workshop with the LGBTIQ community in 2013 with the intention to develop creative interventions to the problems facing them. … (I also) run queer women events like film screenings, talks and social events that include, platform and develop queer women artists, musicians, comedians, poets and performers.

Community-based work interests: 

Raise awareness

Building community relations

Address issues in the community

Types of community where work is conducted: 

N/A

Types of activity:

Organising events: Festival, showcase performances/ exhibitions

Community interventions: Creative activities for improved livelihood, Creation of shared spaces

Classes:Acting/ drama, Writing/ poetry

Workshops: Acting/ drama, Writing/ poetry

Research & Documentation: Design of lesson plans and curriculum in the form of manuals.