Based in Sarawak, East Malaysia, we are a social enterprise working with rural and urban communities, artists and artisans and cultural practitioners throughout Borneo island to platform, document and experiment with traditional craft and culture, and explore contemporary approaches to Borneo’s unique creative heritage.
Catama was founded in 2014 with the ambition to collaborate with craft-making and creative communities to explore traditional knowledge and contemporary design and resources through craft development strategies.
Over the past eight years we have worked with communities throughout Sarawak, Sabah and Kalimantan, as well as local and international artists, designers and makers on research and documentation, training and skill development, product innovation and creative residencies
In this time we have developed toolkits, products and systems for research, engagement and capacity building with rural and urban communities and created products, platforms and opportunities for inter-generational knowledge transfer.
Our Vision
To build platforms that bring together communities, provide creative and economic opportunities and play a role in the preservation of traditional knowledge through innovation, training and creative development.
To create products, experiences, approaches and co-collaborative relationships that embrace indigenous culture and knowledge as powerful tools to respond and adapt to a contemporary world.
Highlights of Our Journey
2014 - 2016
British Council
Social Entrepreneurs for Good Award
Rural Craft Development Programmes
R & D and capacity building
Product Development
Craft commissions
Training & Talks
Social enterprises, cultural strategies, and creative entrepreneurship
Craft demonstrations
Rhythms of Rimba Festival
Rainforest World Music Festival
2017
Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (MaGIC)
Amplify Award
Borneo Bengkel
Curation and Production
Creative Residency, HAUS KCH
Talk Series:
Motifs, Meanings, and Myths
Fireside Fables & Folklore
Friends of Sarawak Museum
2018
Malaysian Roadmap
Creatives, Communities & the Environment
Borneo Boat Lute Revival
R & D, field work, museum archives
Legacy of the Boat Lute
Revivalists Documentary, TVS
Archived in Alive
British Museum and Pitt Rivers Oxford University, UK
Lost & Found Exhibition
Ruang Tamu, Kota Kinabalu
Pagar & Padi Exhibition
Kota-K Art Gallery, Kota Kinabalu
Backroom Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Grant Writing 101
Workshop, Kota Kinabalu
2019
INXO Arts Grant
Borneo Boat Lute Revival
Borneo Bengkel Roadshows
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Pontianak, Kalimantan
Rainforest World Music Festival
North Borneo Rainforest Festival
Community Trips
Kampung Keiyup, Sabah
Long Lellang, Baram
Sitok Festival
Creative consultancy
Project management
2020 - 2022
Crafting Business
Entrepreneur development training programme
DALAM exhibition
Contemporary art exhibition
Craft Toolkits
Research & Development
Borneo Bengkel
Co-curator online programming
Borneo Boat Lute Revival
Kapuas Ulu research trip
2023
Crafting Business
Entrepreneur development training programme
DALAM exhibition
Contemporary art exhibition
Craft Toolkits
Research & Development
Borneo Bengkel
Co-curator online programming
Borneo Boat Lute Revival
Kapuas Ulu research trip
2024
10 years old
Hurrah!
HUMAN - NATURE
Creative Consultant for British Council
ARAM BEKELALA
Community Engagement Guide
SAMA SAMA Creative Residency
Advisor, Pangrok Sulap
Borneo Boat Lute Research