Educators and artists from across Malaysia have successfully completed the Kelab YSD-Kakiseni Junior 2026 Arts Incubation Programme, a five-day immersive training and collaboration initiative that brought together participants from every region of the country to strengthen arts education in schools.

Held from 4 to 8 July 2026, the incubation gathered 26 teachers from 13 schools, as well as 13 visual and performing artists from all over Malaysia for the expansion of the Kelab YSD-Kakiseni Junior Programme, where resident artists are partnered with schools to train and empower students in the arts. The cohort included participants from Peninsular Malaysia, all the way from the Peninsular East Coast to the North Coast, as well as East Malaysia (Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan), reflecting the programme's commitment to ensuring equitable access to arts education across diverse communities. 

This year’s cohort brings together schools from urban, suburban, rural and interior communities, reaffirming the programme’s belief that access to arts education should not be determined by geography. From Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan to the northern and eastern edges of Peninsular Malaysia, participating schools include communities shaped by inland routes and riverine landscapes, alongside schools in Perlis, Pahang, Terengganu and other parts of the country.

The resident artists also represent a diverse cross-section of Malaysia’s creative landscape, with practices spanning community arts, puppetry, theatre, Bharatanatyam, contemporary visual arts, choreography, traditional performance, storytelling and costume design. Among them are practitioners whose works have been presented locally and internationally, including Sabah-based Pangrok Sulap artist Jibrail Jamil, Johor-based multidisciplinary artist Tok Rimau, Kedah-based Bharatanatyam exponent Jisintha Sukumar, Pahang theatre director Suzana Mohd Suboh and Terengganu performer and choreographer Ahmad Firdaus Che Yahaya.

Together, the teachers and artists bring different artistic traditions, lived experiences and creative approaches into classrooms, giving students the opportunity to learn directly from practising artists while discovering how the arts can shape the way they think, express themselves and engage with the world. 

Over the incubation period, teachers from the selected schools and resident artists participated in a series of immersive workshops together, covering communication skills, visual arts, performing arts, and creative self-expression. The incubation also serves as a platform for teachers and artists to build meaningful relationships, foster mutual learning, and establish strong collaborative partnerships. Today marks the culmination of this journey, as the participants graduate from the incubation programme and are ready to embark on the next phase of bringing arts education into their respective schools.

Organised by Kakiseni Junior and supported by Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD), Kelab YSD-Kakiseni Junior connects public schools with professional Malaysian artists to cultivate creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and self-expression among students through arts-based learning experiences. Each participating school is paired with a visual or performing artist who works alongside educators to facilitate creative learning throughout the programme cycle.

YSD has supported Kakiseni since 2021 to widen access to arts education, beginning with the development of the Kakiseni Junior web based platform as a hub for arts education resources, learning materials and programme activities. This support continued through Kelab YSD-Kakiseni Junior, which brings arts clubs, teaching resources and artist-led learning into public schools nationwide.

With additional support from the MADANI Government through the matching grant under Belanjawan 2025, total support for YSD’s partnership with Kakiseni since 2021 stands at RM2.72 million. To date, including the 2026 cohort, Kelab YSD-Kakiseni Junior has reached nearly 60 schools across Malaysia with close to 2,000 registered club members, supported by a growing network of over 100 teachers who are directly involved, and nearly 60 resident artists. 

Dr Hjh Yatela Zainal Abidin, Chief Executive Officer of YSD, said, “Kelab YSD-Kakiseni Junior reflects YSD’s commitment to making arts education an integral part of a well-rounded learning experience. Just as science develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills, the arts nurture creativity, confidence and self-expression; both of which are essential for holistic student development.” 

“As the programme grows, we hope more young Malaysians, especially those from underserved communities, will have the opportunity to discover their potential through the arts while building important life skills such as communication, collaboration, adaptability, and empathy that will serve them well in school and beyond,” she added.

Throughout the week, participants engaged in a series of workshops, masterclasses, collaborative sessions and artistic explorations designed to equip them with practical tools, methodologies and resources to implement arts-based programmes within their schools. The incubation featured sessions led by Geetha Shankaran-Lam of GSD Performing Arts Studio, Empathy for Youth Academy, Rhythm in Bronze, the KL Shakespeare Players, among others, providing participants with opportunities to explore communication skills, relationship building, as well as  visual and performing arts practices while developing new approaches to engaging students through creative expression.

Low Ngai Yuen, President of Kakiseni said, “Every child deserves the opportunity to discover who they are before the world tells them who they should become. The arts create that space. They teach young people to observe, question, collaborate, empathise and imagine. These are qualities that every future leader, entrepreneur, scientist and citizen will need. That's why arts education isn't enrichment. It is nation-building.

“We often ask what kind of workforce Malaysia needs in twenty years. I think we should begin by asking what kind of humans we hope to raise. The arts help children become curious, resilient and compassionate. Our ambition isn't to produce more artists. It's to raise a generation that thinks creatively, works collaboratively and has the confidence to shape the future; whatever profession they choose.”

Following the incubation, participating teachers and artists will return to their respective schools to implement Kelab YSD-Kakiseni Junior activities throughout the year. Through mentorship, creative projects and arts-based learning experiences, students will have opportunities to engage with a variety of artistic disciplines while developing confidence, communication skills and creative thinking.

Since its inception in 2023, Kelab YSD-Kakiseni Junior has continued to build a growing national network of educators, artists and students committed to championing arts education in Malaysia. By bringing professional artists directly into school communities, the programme creates meaningful opportunities for young people to experience the arts as a powerful tool for learning, expression and personal growth.

At its core, Kelab YSD-Kakiseni Junior seeks to:

• Connect schools with professional visual and performing artists as mentors and role models
• Facilitate knowledge transfer between artists and educators
• Encourage leadership, creativity and self-expression among students
• Foster a nationwide community advocating for arts education
• Demonstrate the value of the arts as a tool for holistic learning and development

Building on the achievements of previous cohorts and with the support of the Ministry of Education, Kelab YSD-Kakiseni Junior has reached 45 schools nationwide, impacted more than 1,300 students, engaged 90 teachers, and involved 48 visual and performing arts practitioners across Malaysia, not including this year’s cohort. With the commencement of the 2026 cohort, the programme continues to strengthen a growing ecosystem of educators and artists working together to make arts education more accessible and impactful for young Malaysians.