Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (third right) and Sarawak Tourism Board CEO Sharzede Salleh Askor (centre) stopping by BIBCo’s promotional booth during the launch of WAK 2019 Calendar last month. Also seen here are WAK festival directors Donald Tan (far left) and Marina Tan (second left), Crafthub directors Lyn Alhady (third left), Heidi Munan (second right), Rosemarie Wong (far right). Donald is also a Crafthub director. (Photo courtesy of Jee Photography.) 
The Beads Abuzz Bazaar at Plaza Merdeka will satisfy fashionistas and collectors alike. (Photo courtesy of Crafthub.) 
Facilitator Pam Annesley shows participants how to work with metal clay in her workshop during the last BIBCo in 2017. (Photo courtesy of Crafthub.)
KUCHING: Borneo International Beads Conference (BIBCo) 2019 is back with their sixth installment, this time with the theme “Beads of our Time.”
Held at The Waterfront Hotel from October 4 to 6, participants can expect a fruitful time, sharing knowledge and expertise in the conference, and get some hands-on time at the various workshops available.
Conference sessions are broken down into five topics. ‘Beads in History’ will feature talks on Viking Beads in the Ancient World Trade (Torben Sode), and Chevron and Millefiorie Beads of India (Dr Alok Kanungo).
The session on ‘Beads from Far Away Lands’ will have Dr Marsha Bol talking about Lakota Sioux Beadwork of the Central Plains USA, as well as Niyati Kakadia talking about the Living Bead Cultures of Gujarat, India. This will be followed by the third conference session on ‘Beads, Science and the Law’, featuring Dr Margaret Chan talking about how ‘Nothing is wasted – Making Beads from Sago Processing Residue’. Ritu Sethi and Dr Moe Chiba will come on to talk about Traditional Art Designs and Intellectual Property Rights.
On the final day, conference delegates will hear about the Bead Culture of the Maloh People of Kalimantan from Siti Musrika, and The Beaded Parang of Belawan from Dora Jok under the “Beads From Borneo” session. This will be followed by “Beads and Textiles”, where Dr Linda McIntosh will be discussing Beaded Textiles of the Katu People of South Laos and Central Highlands of Vietnam, while Christopher Lim Zamora will talk about Beaded Garments of Bagob Tagawawa in Davaoi Region, Philippines.
There will also be a total of 22 workshops to choose from, ranging from working with traditional beads and creating your own jewellery to opportunities to consult with industry professionals.
This includes a workshop on How to Mount a Bead Exhibition, facilitated by Marsha Bol from the USA, who will show participants the best ways of highlighting their treasured beads.
Full details and schedule for all workshops are available at crafthub.com.my/bibco2019-2.
Borneo International Beads Abuzz Bazaar will also take place at the same time at Plaza Merdeka, featuring beads and craft vendors from around the world.
BIBCo is organised by Crafthub, a non-profit organisation which aims to promote and market Sarawak handicrafts in an economically viable way, with international standard quality control.
For more further information and updates, visit crafthub.com.my/bibco2019-2 or follow ‘CrafthubSdnBhd’ on Facebook.
This event is part of What About Kuching 2019. For more information or to download our calendar, visit aboutkuching.com. Programme booklet are also available for free across Kuching. For updates, find WAK on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter under @aboutkuching. Join the buzz by hashtagging #WAK2019, #WAK and #aboutkuching.
