Kakiseni president Low Ngai Yuen (far right) with BOH Plantations executive chairperson Caroline Russell and CEO Jason Foo (All photos: BOH Cameronian Arts Awards)
After a three-year hiatus, the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards is returning to the physical stage in May for its 18th edition. This year’s theme, “A New Day, Setia Pada Senimu”, reflects the spirit of the performing arts community and its renewed sense of purpose after a tumultuous few years.
Founded by Kakiseni and supported by BOH Plantations, the awards released its list of nominees for the dance, theatre, musical theatre and music categories earlier this month. The highly anticipated “Best Of” category is a call between A Notional History (theatre) by Five Arts Centre, Dark Light (music) by Young Choral Academy, Dream of the Red Chamber (music) by Lee Rubber Chinese Orchestra Kuala Lumpur, Follow the Light (musical theatre) by theatrethreesixty and N2 (dance) by La Danza Theatre.
“Suffice it to say, the last few years were a period of testing for each of us, but that same difficult journey has shaped our tenacity as an industry,” BOH Plantations CEO Jason Foo says in a press release. “It’s great to see the arts industry reinvent itself, rise to conquer the challenges of the past and concertedly move ahead to shape the exciting future.
“As we now sow the seeds of new beginnings, may the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards continue to motivate each performing artist to reach for the stars and break any glass ceilings that may be holding you back. Show your mettle and reach for excellence! As always, it’s been a pleasure for BOH to journey with you in your creative pursuits and we look forward to meeting up again at the awards ceremony.”
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The 18th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards is the culmination of shows judged over the last three years. Apart from recognising those who have demonstrated excellence in the mentioned categories, it will also honour crew members who brought the productions to life, including the talented practitioners behind costume and makeup; music and sound; visual and set design; as well as lighting design.
In 2020, the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards was held online for the first time and BOH Plantations assisted 15 production companies that were past winners with a contribution of RM10,000 each. These companies were identified based on their continued contribution to the industry and whose works-in-progress had been interrupted during the Movement Control Order.
When the pandemic continued into 2022, RM200,000 worth of grants were awarded to 20 performing arts companies to help defray the costs of putting up new productions in a bid to reboot the arts sector and encourage production companies that are making their debut.
The 18th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Ceremony is slated to take place on May 14 at PJPAC, 1 Utama E, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Petaling Jaya. For the full list of nominees, visit kakiseni.org.
This article first appeared on Apr 17, 2023 in The Edge Malaysia.
