Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) is calling for anyone who is keen to become volunteers at the upcoming Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF).

The volunteers form is available at the festival website at www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com and the closing date to submit the form is on April 15.

Volunteers have become any important part of organizing the annual festival, assisting in various areas like at the registration counter, gate, stage, media centre, carrying musical equipment and "baby-sitting" the performers. Which ever area they are assign to, each of the volunteers is vital to the success of the RWMF.

As STB Chief Executive Officer Gracie Geikie said," the RWMF would not be possible without the dedicated band of volunteers who have helped, year after year, giving their best without any reward other than knowing that they contributed to a great event."

Volunteers hard at work

Every year STB would need at least 150 volunteers to help in ensuring the smooth running of RWMF and this year the number remain the same. What STB normally provide the volunteers are accommodation, RWMF t-shirts (to be worn while on duty) and meals. They would be assigned to perform their duties in shifts.

The most notable thing about RWMF volunteers are that most of them are repeated volunteers who had been helping out with the festival as far back as when it started in 1998.

One such person is Sivapalan Ganasalingam, who came all the way from Kuala Lumpur every year to volunteer at the festival. Fondly know as Siva among the regular volunteers at the schleppering section, he started volunteering for RWMF in 1998 and had never fail to do so until now.

Siva…ever ready to volunteer at RWMF

Siva had already signed up for this year's festival which will be held from July 11 to 13 at the Sarawak Cultural Village. Apart from Siva, there are also locals who had been regular volunteers at the festival.

This year STB had invited 14 foreign groups to perform at festival and they are from UK; Gambia/Guinea; Philippines; Palestine; Greece; Portugal; Congo; Japan; Columbia; Brazil/USA; India and Angola/Italy/Portugal. The foreign bands were selected from the more than 450 applications from bands that are keen to perform at RMWF.

There will also be performances from local Sarawak bands and bands from Peninsula Malaysia. Together, all these bands are expected to present a spectacular performance at the festival

Tickets priced at RM90 per day and RM250 for three days for adult and RM45 per day and RM100 for three days for children between three and 12 years old, are available online at www.ticketcharge.com.my. The online ticket sales had began on December 12 last year and respond had been very encouraging.

Volunteers enjoying their breakfast with one of the performers (seated second from right).

And, the first 500 guests who buy two three-day passes will be given a copy of the soft cover RWMF anniversary book entitled "Music Without Borders- The Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak." The 508-page book depicted the chronology of the festival since its inception in 1998. Retailed at RM125 per copy, the book also contained more than 500 photographs.

To infuse more excitement to the festival, numerous fringe events have been included to add more air of festivity to the event which has been enjoying steady growth in popularity. They are Rainforest World Craft Bazaar 2008 (RWCB) and Folk Art Forum (FAF).

The RWCB is organized by the Sarawak Craft Council in collaboration with STB. The bazaar is scheduled to be held from July 9 to 15 and expected to be participated by master craftsmen from various countries including from Sarawak, showcasing their unique crafts wares.

Craft making workshop will also be held at the RWCB, besides the exhibition and sales of the crafts.

Inquiry on the RWCB can be made to crafthub@gmail.com and muheidi@pc.jaring.my.

The art forum is more on showcasing works of renowned local and international artists. Organised by Galleria, the theme for the art forum is Our Culture, Our People.

To be held from July 9 to 11 at the Orang Ulu House at the Sarawak Cultural Village, the art forum is targeting at students and art enthusiasts. The FAF programme includes workshop, exhibition and forum.

Details and update on RWMF 2008 are available on the festival website at www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com. The website is also enjoying a steady stream of visitors with an average of 5,000 hits daily.

For more information on press releases, related media events and updates and visiting journalist programe please contact Ms. Letitia Samuel at letitia@sarawaktourism.com.

Issued by:
RWMF 2008 Organising Committee
Sarawak Tourism Board
www.sarawaktourism.com
Tel: +6 082 423600
Fax: +6 082 416700