The Performing Arts Welcomes Back The BOH Cameronian Arts Awards with Renewed Ummph!!!

PETALING JAYA, 3 April 2023 – Get ready! The BOH Cameronian Arts Awards is back. This year, it will be a most exciting celebration for the performing arts industry as theatres and arts venues are fully operating and have opened their doors to audiences.

While we celebrate our very own Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh for her achievements in Hollywood, the 18th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards presents a timely and excellent opportunity to do the same for our many talents here in Malaysia.

Newcomers have also made their entry with smashing performances and it’s very encouraging to witness a new generation of performers who will keep the fire burning for the arts!

Therefore, don’t miss that time of the year again when everyone gets caught up with awards shows, and the creme de la creme of the arts and entertainment scene are celebrated all over the world. Be part of the camaraderie!

Gearing up to celebrate and salute those who have worked courageously through the last few tumultuous years, the 18th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards kicked off with the Nominees Announcement at the Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPAC) at the 1 Utama Shopping Centre.

The 18th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards is the culmination of shows judged over the last three years (2020, 2021 & 2022) when the arts industry had to wade through the pandemic which turned the world on its head. Nonetheless, over 101 productions were submitted during this period which a group of formidable judges have weighed in on.

The judges were Dr Andrew Filmer, Dominic Luk, Janet Kan, Ng Yuet Sum, Sara Heng, Dr Sayyid Shafiee, Tan E-Jan for Music; Alla@Azura Abal Abas, Choong Wan Chin, Foo Chi Wei, Kenny Shim, Rathimalar Govindarajoo, Mohd Yunus Ismail for Dance; Christopher Ling, Fazleena Hishamuddin, Dr Muralitharan Pillai, Dr Syahrul Musa, Yves Yap for Theatre; and Colin Kirton, Mervyn Peters, Michael Xavier Voon, Sabrina Hassan, Sandra Sodhy for Musical Theatre.

Apart from recognising those who have demonstrated excellence in acting, music and dancing chops, awards will also be presented to the marvellous behind-the-scenes crews who take care of all the things that bring productions to life including Costume & Makeup, Music & Sound, Visual & Set Design, and Lighting Design.

CEO of BOH Plantations, Jason Foo said, “It’s so good to have the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards back as one of the highlights of the arts industry. Suffice to say, the last few years was a period of testing for each of us but that same difficult journey has shaped our tenacity as an industry. It’s great to see the arts industry re-invent itself, rise to conquer the challenges of the past and concertedly move ahead to shape the exciting future. As we now sow the seeds of new beginnings, may the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards continue to motivate each performing artist to reach for the stars and break any glass ceilings that may be holding you back. Show your mettle and reach for excellence! As always, it’s been a pleasure for BOH to journey with you in your creative pursuits and we look forward to meeting up again at the Awards ceremony.”

In 2020, the 17th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards was held online for the first time ever, celebrating the achievements of 2019 and acknowledging the best productions for the year. That same year, BOH Plantations assisted 15 production companies who were past winners with a contribution of RM10,000 each. These companies were identified based on their continued contribution to the industry and whose works in-progress then had been interrupted during the year’s Movement Control Order.

When the pandemic period continued into 2022, RM200,000 worth of BOH Cameronian Grants for New Productions were awarded to 20 performing arts companies to help defray the costs of putting up new productions, in a bid to reboot the arts sector and hopefully encourage production companies who are making a debut.

Low Ngai Yuen, President of Kakiseni said, “The last few years tested not just performers in our country but around the globe as the lockdowns and movement control orders halted performance art, live music and production work everywhere, making it extremely difficult for arts practitioners to survive. But they did, pivoting to online live streaming and other creative solutions, until finally in 2022, the sector started opening up again and rebuilding itself. BOH Cameronian Grants for New Productions helped to kickstart things again. Some of these shows have even made it to the nominations list! So it is indeed a joyous occasion for us to host the 18BCAA and announce the nominees.”

This year’s theme, A New Day. Setia Pada Senimu, is a true reflection of the spirit of the performing arts community for rising from the ashes with a renewed sense of purpose.

Whether applied to the practitioners on-stage or crew behind the scenes and those directly involved, this spirit reminds us all why we are still doing what we’re doing.

To commemorate the challenges the industry had to go through and how everyone had believed that better days were coming, a very special BOH tea canister design has been created to give everyone the Ummph to see more light in what they believe in. Staying true to their calling has made it possible for the community to continue the journey. Limited canisters will be produced and made available at the awards ceremony.

The BOH Cameronian Arts Awards is supported by long standing title sponsor, BOH Plantations, and BDO in Malaysia who debuts as the Ballot Partner.

This year, A Cut Above, Inglot Cosmetics and SUB International Beauty School, joined by SOGO will be part of the 18th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards to lend the celebration more glamour and style.

The 18th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Ceremony is slated to take place on Sunday, May 14, 2023 at PJPAC, 1 Utama E, 1 Utama Shopping Centre.

Article from: BOH Plantations Sdn Bhd and Kakiseni.