WHAT immediately comes to mind when one speaks of Kajang? It’s likely you’ll picture mouth-watering sate and Ning Baizura (at least for the few that actually do find her mouth-watering). However, there are a few people that will glare at these ignorant Ning-fans, and mouth the words “City of Culture”.

Who was to know that once upon a time, before the Second World War, Kajang was home to the Overseas Chinese School. The school played a heavy role in the vibrant art and culture scene that was once Kajang. In fact, Kajang used to be known as “The City of Culture” in the Klang Valley. Alas, it was not to last, as the school closed in June 1948, thanks to the colonists’ enforcement of a nation-wide curfew. Virtually all cultural activities vanished with the school.

Now, however, there are efforts to turn back the clock. As New Era College celebrates their 10th anniversary since first opening in 1998, they are determined to see Kajang back the way it used to be.

The college has begun open calls for artists to participate in their new project, “Community Art Carnival”. The project is divided into two parts. The first is aptly titled “Artists In School”. The explanation is all in the name. Four artists from the Kajang area will be selected, along with two international artists, to work with students, and eventually create different art works, depending on the artists’ backgrounds (i.e. dance, visual arts, music etc.) The artists will be “in school” for a period of two weeks, beginning Friday, 23 May to Friday, 6 June 2008.

The second part of the project is what promises to be a fantastic, colourful carnival of the works created by the students and artists, on Saturday, 7 June 2008.

At the moment, the project is still in the preparation stages, with an open call to artists to submit their applications. New Era College is looking for artists that are based in (and) or were born in or grew up in Kajang to send in their curriculum vitae and samples of works to be considered. The deadline for submission is Thursday 20 March, 2008.

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Yasmin Zetti Martin writes for Kakiseni.

“The Return of Culture Town – Kajang Community Art Carnival 2008” is initiated and presented by New Era College’s Drama and Visual Arts Department. For more information, click here.

*Kakiseni.com is the official media sponsor for this project.