The United States Embassy in Malaysia has channelled the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) grant amounting to US$250,000 (RM1.1 million) to Malaysia for the period 2001 to last year.
US Ambassador to Malaysia Brian McFeeters said the grant is aimed at supporting research work and the preservation of cultural heritage in the country.
"Efforts were made since 2001, including studies and research on the art of rebana kercing in Kelantan and preservation of traditional performances such as wayang kulit and menora.
"The embassy is paying attention to steps towards elevating heritage and culture so that they continue to be recognised in the community, while also strengthening local as well as global ties," McFeeters (above) told a press conference at the closing of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) rebana kercing conservation project in Bachok, Kelantan, yesterday.
Also present at the ceremony was UMK vice-chancellor Professor Razli Che Razak.
Elaborating on rebana kercing, McFeeters said he admired the talent of more than 100 students, aged 10 and above, from several schools in Kelantan who were able to master the cultural performance art.
"They practised elements of heritage and culture, and this effort is one of the desired results in the step to conservation," he said.
Meanwhile, Razli said the RM200,000 rebana kercing research project involved a total of 27 UMK researchers and staff.
"This research was aimed at preserving the performance art which is believed to have started 150 years ago in Kampung Laut, Tumpat.
"The research project has resulted in various achievements and successes, including the documentation of two books as a result of the research and conservation of the rebana kercing performance art," Razli said.
He said the books to be published are a 180-page book titled 'Rebana Kercing Kampung Laut: Preservation of the Art', and a 90-page coffee-table book titled 'The Preservation of Rebana Kercing: The Journey'.
He said the contents of the book, written by UMK reseachers from various fields of specialisation, would cover the current situation, its history, the rebana kercing association, instruments, dance, costumes and activists.
"The content of the coffee-table book presents visuals of conservation efforts, including interviews, fieldwork and the digitisation of training and cultural performances of rebana kercing through the AFCP project.
"The 13-episode short documentary titled ‘Rebana Kercing: The Dying Art’ will be aired on RTM soon," Razli added.
- Bernama
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