Chance of a lifetime for executive
Part-time MBA student presents impact report on major arts fest to PM
PETALING JAYA: An executive pursuing a MBA programme at the University of Nottingham had the unique opportunity to present an impact report on the DiverseCity KL International Arts Festival (KLIAF) to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The report by Yap Far Loon comprised a study to identify capacitybuilding components required for the development of an arts ecosystem based on the KLIAF.
It was presented to the Prime Minister at the “Meet The Beneficiaries” event organised by Yayasan myNADI recently.
Launched in 2015, KLIAF is building a reputation as a major annual international celebration of the arts.
Held in the third quarter of the year, the festival features artistes across a variety of genres at more than a dozen venues throughout Kuala Lumpur.
The performances are complemented by educational workshops and activities.
This year’s festival (KLIAF 2018) will be officially launched on Aug 31 and will take place throughout September.
Yap, a part-time MBA student, is the business development director and lead consultant with research consultancy firm Spire Research and Consulting in Malaysia.
His report also examined the impact of the annual five-week KLIAF on audiences, including children with specific needs, in Kuala Lumpur and greater Kuala Lumpur.
“I am very fortunate and would like to express my gratitude to both the Nottingham University Business school (NUBS) and Datin Seri Sunita Rajakumar, who entrust- ed me to lead this pilot project.
“Over the course of the project, I learned a lot, not only in terms of the breadth of capacity-building components towards arts festival development, but also the economic and social benefit opportunities for Malaysia as a nation.
“I sincerely hope I can express my share of learning through my writing, making it accessible and valuable for academia and the arts industry, as well as the public at large,” Yap added.
Yap’s report was co-supervised by Assoc Prof of Strategic Management Dr Mohan V Avvari and Senior University Teaching Fellow Dr Myint Moe Chit.
Dr Mohan, in praising the joint effort between NUBS Malaysia and Spire Research and Consulting, said they were proud to be given an opportunity to present the study to Najib.
“We look forward to more such collaborations between the Business School and industry, while providing an avenue for our MBA students to integrate their learning with impactful and practical research,” he said.
Sunita, who is the KLIAF director, said she was pleased with the efforts of Spire Research and Consulting and NUBS, which contributed to the economic impact report.
“The report provides an independent validation of the great headway being made by this festival in only its third edition as the foremost platform to fund, support and showcase the best of Malaysian performing arts,” she added.
She said last September, 50 KLIAF events were staged at 20 locations around Kuala Lumpur for five weeks, attracting over 33,000 visitors.
She also said all productions were proudly Malaysian, many with high level foreign collaborators, with only three international productions.
KLIAF 2018 will feature more than 50 music, dance, theatre, visual arts and literature events in over 12 venues in and around the city.