An ‘old building’ in front of Central Police Station at Jalan Barrack has been identified to be transformed into the Kuching art gallery.
The news was reported in an article by DayakDaily which quoted Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, as saying that the Sarawak government has agreed to the transformation.
According to Karim, the building will need to be handed to his ministry first before renovations can be made for it to be converted, but suggested that the art gallery will open this year.
No particular building was mentioned in the article, but it is highly likely that the Museum Main Office (famed also as the former Kuching Resident and District Office) is the building in mention as it is the only heritage building in front of the Central Police Station at Jalan Barrack.
If so, it will definitely put good use to the building which has not seen much ‘action’ since it the Kuching Resident and District Office moved out.
Kuching, a city of art and culture
It’s very interesting how Kuching is slowly embracing arts and culture as part of its identity.
The city had previously been named as one of UNIESCO’s City of Gastronomy, and is also looking at making some parts of it to be recognized as UNESCO’s Global Geopark.
Aside from that, the old Sarawak State Legislative Building (DUN) had also been converted into an performance art centre, with local events thriving on arts, music and culture.
