Sarawak’s Performing Arts Centre to better what Istana Budaya offers
The new Sarawak Performing Arts Centre (SPAC) is expected to be better than Malaysia’s national performing art centre, Istana Budaya.
Sarawak Minister for tourism, creative industry and performing arts, Snowdan Lawan was cited as saying that the new Sarawak Performing Arts Centre is designed by a consultant with experience in world-renowned opera houses like the Sydney Opera House.
It is understood that the SPAC will also be inspired by the legendary Royal Albert Hall in London.
Located in Petra Jaya, the SPAC will repurpose the historic old Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) building where Sarawak intends to blend historical significance with modern cultural utility.
The state-funded initiative represents a total investment of approximately RM300 million, reflecting its scale and complexity.
This for the Sarawak Performing Arts Centre budget is divided into two primary segments: RM200 million dedicated to the intricate renovation and technological upgrading of the building infrastructure, and RM60 million allocated for the development of a grand boulevard and extensive surrounding landscaping to enhance the visitor experience.
The facility will feature a specialized two-level theatre hall designed with advanced “in-house” acoustics to support performances without the need for external microphones.
Additional amenities include a flexible black box theatre, a dedicated dance studio, a high-tech music recording studio, and an art gallery.
Sarawak Performing Arts Centre constuction progress
Official updates released in mid-June 2025 confirm that the project is progressing steadily toward a targeted completion date in late 2026 or early 2027.
Having officially commenced physical works in May 2024, the site has seen a significant increase in activity over the last quarter.
As of early 2025, the project reached the 10% completion mark, with current efforts focused on heavy structural modifications to the existing framework.
News source: Borneo Post
