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The second Rainforest World Crafts Bazaar was held in July 2009, once again to coincide with the world-famous Rainforest World Music Festival, now in its 12th year, in the same venue as the RWMF, the Sarawak Cultural Village.

The RWCB was organised by Crafthub for the Sarawak Craft Council and supported by the Sarawak Tourism Board.

In the two years it has been held, the RWCB has attracted participations from East and West Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea, Central Asia, Poland, Kyrgyzstan, India, Japan, and Denmark.

Despite the obstacles of the economic depression and the threat of influenza, RWCB in 2009 was once again very successful. This year's event was on a larger scale than in 2008, with 72 booths occupied by local and international participants.

Here are some of the comments we received from visitors:

“What wonderful talents we have - it is very good for the people involved to give the young talents a chance to show off.”

Tan Sri Dr.George Chan Hong Nam, Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak

“Absolutely Amazing, and essential for the [music] festival!”

Randy Raine-Reusch, Artistic Director RWMF, Canada

“Excellent Crafts Bazaar – well done!”

Kate Welsman, Music Journalist, Australia

“It is Crafts and Nature that reminds us where we are. Beautiful – I hope to visit in 2010!”

Padmaka, Sri Lanka

“So much beauty – so many colours! Congratulations!”

Gabriel Vasquez, Chile

“Wow, some really lovely things. Wish I wasn’t here on a budget.”

Catherine Turner, UK

“Interesting, enlightening. Syabas (well done) for promoting ethnic art and craft!”

Premala Mohan Kumar, Malaysia

“Well-organized event, very friendly people. Will visit again – thank you!”

Ross Konowallenco, Australia

“Thank you for a selection of wonderful items!”

Shan Galey, Singapore

“Just one word: Prachtig! (Splendid!)”

Jan Willem, Netherlands

“Beautiful crafts, incredible artistry. A great festival!”

Karen Shepherd, Malaysia

“What a beautiful display of all those beautiful crafts and arts! Well done organizers!”

Jan Turnbull, Australia

To house the event, a ‘craft city’ of more than 70 booths, many of them air-conditioned, was custom-built. The crafts of Malaysia - West and East, Korea, Indonesia, Central Asia and Poland were on display, with special billing for the ethnic products of Sarawak.

The customer base was even more varied, consisting of some 22,000 Rainforest World Music Festival fans from many countries as well as many local people.

The Bazaar was formally opened on Wednesday July 8th by Her Excellency Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Hajah Norkiah, wife of the Head of State of Sarawak, and was attended by many local dignitaries. H.E. was welcomed by Datuk Gramong Juna, Chairman of the Sarawak Crafts Council, and by Heidi Munan, Director of the RWCB. After the opening, H.E. toured the bazaar.

RWCB 2009 was also visited by Datuk Michael Manyin, Sarawak Minister for Urban Development and Tourism, and by Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam, Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak.

SEEN AT THE RAINFOREST WORLD CRAFTS BAZAAR 2009....

H.E.’s visit to the Bazaar......
...at Saleem’s Islamic Arts, with fine carpets from Central Asia	H.E. painting batik, helped by Misari from the Jakarta Textile Museum, with Heidi Munan watching intently	H.E. views traditional Sarawak bead decoration work
H.E. viewing Sarawak Beads	H.E. and Indonesian stall	H.E. and hats from orang ulu ethnic group
At the formal opening of the event......
H.E cutting the ribbon, with Datuk Gramong Juna and Heidi Munan	The formal opening speeches	Datuk Gramong Juna, Datuk Wan Junaidi - the local Member of Parliament for Santubong and Deputy Speaker, and Heidi Munan
Datuk Gramong, Indonesian craftsman Benny Adrianto, and Indonesian vice-consul Bapak Rafail Walangitan		Sarawak artist Narong Daun with Heidi Munan, H.E., and Datuk Gramong
Crafts demonstrations......
Nabila Abdullah making pots - Kraftangan		Weaving demonstrations - Kraftangan
Textile crafts in practice - Kraftangan		Hands-on pottery demonstration - Kraftangan
Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam visited the bazaar......
Tan Sri Dr. George Chan with hand-painted ceramics from Sarawak....	....and with local potter Nabila	Tan Sri Dr. George Chan with Sarawak craftspeople - who are wearing RWCB 2009 t-shirts!...
	.....and another Sarawak craftswoman, who is wearing a different RWCB 2009 t-shirt design!
...as did Sarawak Tourism Minister Datuk Michael Manyin......
Datuk Michael examines a traditional parang	Datuk Michael and traditional weapons and wood crafts	Datuk Michael visiting Korean stall and exhibitor Suk Mee Hee, with Heidi Munan
At Esther Siret’s stall - musical intruments and bark clothing		Datuk Michael views traditional Sarawak basket work
Other visitors and shoppers......
	Young visitor learning batik painting
Browsers and shoppers	The Bazaar was visited by several school parties from Kuching	Shoppers at Indonesian stall
Impromptu “fashion show” on Thursday 9th......
	Models preparing for impromptu “Fashion show”
	Flamboyant ‘model’ and textile designer Rosso
Crafts, Stalls and Exhibitors......
Eileen Lawrence and Grandfather, with Penan rattan products	Crafthub ceramic chokers	Indonesian decorative items
Agus Purwanto and Benny Adrianto, with textiles from Java	Siew Fun and Ila, from Funz Kaftan in Kuala Lumpur, with their kaftans	Sarawak Lady with traditional Pua Kumbu weavings
Florence Wee, from Sarawak, who makes glass beads and produces jewellery with them	Longhouse Model	Isdarnaini with bags and baskets from Java
	Qursiah, Nuriy’s Arts and Crafts, from Kuala Lumpur, with her colourful bags and t-shirts

RWCB 2009 is organised for...				... and the event is managed by ...

Sarawak Craft Council				Crafthub Sdn Bhd

RWCB was supported ...
... in Sarawak by ...		... and nationally, in Malaysia, by ...

Sarawak Tourism Board	Ministry of Urban Development and Tourism, Sarawak	Tourism Malaysia	Ministry of Tourism Malaysia	Shell