Senior Director, Think City, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself, Izan?
I’m Izan Satrina Mohd Sallehuddin, Senior Director of Think City, a think-and-do tank dedicated to making cities more liveable, resilient, and people-friendly. Currently, I am spearheading Think City’s initiative to revitalise the historic core of Malaysia’s capital city through the Kuala Lumpur Creative and Cultural District (KLCCD) while also supporting the KLCCD Transformation Programme Steering Committee.
Prior to joining Think City, I founded and served as CEO of CENDANA, Malaysia’s Cultural Economy Development Agency, which reported to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia.
My passion lies in fostering collaborations among the government, private sector, and the cultural community, all striving towards pushing the needle to make significant changes and beneficial goals. Although my career began in accounting, I was drawn back to the arts, managing Enfiniti Vision Media and establishing the My Performing Arts Agency (MyPAA).
I’ve been fortunate to be recognised with several honours, including nominations for The Malaysian Women’s Weekly Great Women of Our Time 2013 in Arts and Media, the top 10 National Women Entrepreneurs Award 2014 and Prestige 40 under 40. I am also a founding member of the Arts, Live Events and Festival Association of Malaysia.
Beyond these roles, I served as a Board Member at the National Visual Arts Gallery, a Council Member at the Tourism, Arts and Culture Council for the Federal Territories and a Trustee for Yayasan Perintis.
At Think City, I am now tasked with creating liveable and creative cities by boosting sustainable, inclusive, and culturally rich urban environments, and I’m particularly passionate about how cultural heritage and placemaking can drive both social and economic progress. Looking at Think City’s journey that began in Penang 15 years ago when they were tasked to revitalise and rejuvenate the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, has helped shape my sights on adopting the same model to transform Downtown Kuala Lumpur.
Kreatif KL Festival is your brainchild. How did the idea first come about?
The idea for Kreatif KL Festival emerged from a desire to harness the power of creativity and culture in reimagining and transforming Kuala Lumpur’s urban spaces. As cities evolve, their identity is shaped not only by infrastructure but by the creative energy that flows through their streets, neighbourhoods, and public spaces.
The festival was conceived to highlight and integrate the diverse cultural and artistic expressions within the city, showcasing it as a confluence of history and modernity, ideas and creativity, where people gather.
We wanted to contribute in ensuring that the vibrancy of Kuala Lumpur, its heritage, and its contemporary pulse were visible and felt.
Kreatif KL is more than just an event; it’s a long-term strategy to infuse Kuala Lumpur with creative energy by placing arts, culture, and heritage at the heart of the urban experience. By activating public spaces through performances, exhibitions, and collaborations, we create opportunities for the community to engage and foster a deep sense of pride and ownership. This festival plays a pivotal role in transforming Kuala Lumpur into a vibrant hub of creativity that nurtures local talent and strengthens the cultural economy.
Enhancing creative content and programming has been crucial to revitalising Kuala Lumpur’s city centre, not only to draw in more visitors but to reinvigorate the historic core and its public spaces. This effort is central to our destination branding strategy, with the festival showcasing the city’s dynamic creative energy.
By uniting diverse cultural elements, we engage both locals and new audiences, projecting Kuala Lumpur’s unique cultural identity to the world. This positions the city as an attractive creative destination in the region, especially as Malaysia prepares to chair ASEAN and gears up for Visit Malaysia 2026.
What is the objective of this festival?
The objective of the Kreatif KL Festival is to position Kuala Lumpur as a vibrant global creative hub, celebrating its rich heritage while fostering international collaboration and revitalising its historic urban spaces. At its core, the festival aims to reintroduce the city’s historic centre to the public, transforming it with arts and creativity.
We want people to rediscover Kuala Lumpur, and experience its unique cultural identity that seamlessly blends tradition with modernity. The festival also creates a platform for local and international artists to connect, collaborate, and inspire, driving cultural exchange and elevating the city’s creative profile on the world stage. Beyond its cultural significance, the festival plays a vital role in contributing to the city’s economic and social development.
By hosting over 100 events across Kuala Lumpur’s historic precincts, such as Civic, Petaling Street, Heritage Triangle and the Traditional Shopping Street Precinct PrecinctsKreatif KL promotes the revitalisation of these key areas and branding them as areas of interest for the creative and cultural economy.
In addition to that, it encourages sustainable urban practices, such as the adaptive reuse of old buildings, helping to transform these spaces into vibrant, accessible public areas that the community can enjoy.
Invigorating Downtown KL to be a dynamic, and lively hub for culture and creativity requires lots of work from various departments and bodies. How did the team put all of these together?
The curation of the Kreatif KL Festival began as a pilot initiative grounded in close collaboration with the wider Downtown KL communities and partners. From the outset, coordination was crucial—particularly in addressing infrastructure, public safety, and accessibility. We dedicated significant time to engaging local communities, ensuring that the festival not only resonated with them but also fostered a sense of ownership and pride.
Our initial focus was to have meaningful discussions with stakeholders on how this platform could uplift the city, enhance promotion, and bolster Kuala Lumpur’s brand as a vibrant urban destination. This inclusive approach was key to positioning the festival as a catalyst for both local engagement and attracting visitors, ensuring tangible benefits for Downtown KL.
Curating the festival was a collaborative effort between Think City, the Kreatif KL Advisory Committee, Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the KLCCD Transformation Programme Working Committee, chaired by the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur. We aimed to ensure that the festival not only activated public spaces but also offered value to the city.
Revitalising Downtown Kuala Lumpur required coordination across multiple sectors—urban planners, researchers, cultural strategists, government bodies, local communities, businesses, and creative talents. Our goal was to craft a shared vision, one that aligned these diverse stakeholders and brought the city to life.
The festival is also emphasising sustainability and heritage preservation. Walk us through that.
Sustainability and heritage preservation are at the core of the Kreatif KL Festival. We’re focused on revitalising Kuala Lumpur’s historic precincts—like Dataran Merdeka, Petaling Street, the Heritage Triangle and the Traditional Shopping Precincts—through adaptive reuse of old buildings, ensuring they remain vibrant, functional spaces for future generations.
Some of these buildings are now up-and-coming arts hubs in the area. These include Semua House, The Toffee, High Street Studios, GMBB, Central Market and many more. This approach helps reduce environmental impact by conserving resources while breathing new life into these iconic areas.
We also want to foster a deeper connection to the city’s heritage by showcasing traditional art forms, crafts, and cultural practices, blending them with modern creative expressions whilst showcasing the city’s own rich culture that is formed through its metropolitan amalgamation.
Through this, we not only celebrate our rich history but ensure it remains relevant and accessible in today’s world, creating a sustainable cultural ecosystem for Kuala Lumpur. Some of the festival programming focuses on sustainability and heritage preservation, reflecting its commitment to revitalising Kuala Lumpur’s cultural landscape.
Cultural Installations and Exhibitions: The festival features large-scale installations and curated exhibitions like IOTA Companion Show 2024 by Cult Gallery at The Toffe, and Limar and Songket Exhibition by Samyama at Semua House that emphasise preservation and promotions of crafts and textile.
Community Engagement Events: Activities such as Pentas Seni Merdeka at Jalan Raja, Dataran Merdeka, Arts On The Move at public transport stations and weekend marketplaces at Central Market foster community interaction and engagement with local art and heritage. These events aim to encourage visitors to explore and appreciate the city’s rich cultural tapestry.
Sustainable Practices: Events like Palm Practices at the Forest Learning Centre promote environmental awareness and sustainable practices through workshops and educational sessions, engaging participants in hands-on activities that connect them with nature and heritage.
Heritage Celebrations: The festival includes themed events, such as Peranakan Events, that celebrate specific cultural heritages, showcasing traditional crafts, foods, and performances, which serve to preserve and promote cultural identity.
How do you see the Kreatif KL Festival as the catalyst for economic growth?
The Kreatif KL Festival acts as a significant driver of social and economic growth by attracting both locals and visitors, boosting visibility, and stimulates interest in its rich cultural heritage, particularly in key historic precincts. This surge in foot traffic directly benefits local businesses, ranging from restaurants to retailers, while also creating opportunities for creative talents and entrepreneurs to showcase their work.
By positioning Kuala Lumpur as a global creative destination, the festival invites everyone to rediscover the city’s historical charm while supporting its transformation into a thriving cultural destination.
In summary, the Kreatif KL Festival is not just an event but a strategic movement that intertwines economic growth with cultural enrichment, ultimately shaping a more sustainable and vibrant urban landscape for all.
For more details on the festival, you can visit kreatifkl.com .
What are your observations on national pride amongst Malaysians?
National pride in Malaysia runs deep, and it’s reflected in our strong sense of identity, culture, and heritage. Malaysians are incredibly proud of our diversity, which has shaped the nation’s unique blend of traditions, languages, and customs. However, I believe there’s a growing desire to reconnect with our history and cultural roots. You can see a heightened interest and appreciation for authentic cultural experiences and revisiting stories that once lived in these spaces.
Through initiatives like the Kreatif KL Festival, we aim to rekindle this connection by celebrating our shared heritage and showcasing the rich cultural assets that define Malaysia. By giving people the opportunity to engage with their city’s history and creativity, we hope to foster an even greater sense of pride and belonging among Malaysians.
Our goal is to encourage people to invest in memories; cherishing, remembering and educating on the bygone eras, while curating events, moments and experiences to create new memories.
How will the Kreatif KL Festival change the perspectives of Kuala Lumpur dwellers?
The Kreatif KL Festival encourages Kuala Lumpur dwellers to see their city in a new light—one that highlights its rich cultural heritage, artistic vibrancy, and historical significance. By activating public spaces with creative installations, performances, and exhibitions, the festival invites people to rediscover and appreciate the hidden gems in their own backyard.
This is not merely a superficial exploration; it delves deeply into the city’s vibrant creative landscape, highlighting its architectural splendour and rich heritage. Participants can immerse themselves in a wide range of programmes (for eg KALAM: Confluence of Writers & Ideas, Human Library at High Street Studios, Public Art Installations between Masjid Jamek and Pasar Seni transit stations) that celebrate Kuala Lumpur’s flourishing scene of coffee shops, craft stores, and independent bookstores—cultural touchstones that reflect the city’s dynamic spirit.
These activities are thoughtfully anchored within heritage areas, allowing attendees to engage with both contemporary creativity and historical significance, fostering a holistic appreciation of the city’s identity.
It also fosters a sense of ownership and pride, encouraging locals to engage more with their city’s cultural identity and history. By making these experiences accessible to all, the festival not only enhances the way people interact with the city but also instils a renewed appreciation for Kuala Lumpur as a dynamic cultural hub.
Where can our readers know more about the Kreatif KL Festival?
Readers can learn more about the Kreatif KL Festival by visiting our official website at www.kreatifkl.com, where they’ll find details on event schedules, venues, and featured exhibitions. We also regularly update our social media platforms, so be sure to follow us on @kreatifkl and @mythinkcity for the latest news, behind-the-scenes content, and exciting festival highlights.
