Building community arts one cassette cover at a time

MIXTAPE is a community arts project that kicked off the DO IT SMALL initiative from FabCafe Kuala Lumpur. Using the format of the cassette mixtape, artists from around the world sent their work to an exhibition that ran at FabCafe KL Gallery from July 25 to September 30, 2026.

How FabCafe brings local creative communities to life

The open call was announced on July 1, 2026, and ran through July 15. Artists of any age, anywhere in the world, could submit up to two pieces in traditional, digital, photographic or mixed media, using the official MIXTAPE template. Every submitted artwork was printed as a one-of-a-kind art print, housed in an acrylic cassette box, and hung in the gallery with access to a digital catalogue of each work.

A digital catalogue was available for participants to browse at the exhibition.

Why choose the cassette motif? At FabCafe KL, staff members wore nametags inspired by cassette tapes, which triggered memories for team members who had used them back in the day, while those who had never used a cassette asked questions about them. The team felt there was a story to share there, one they could translate as a journey of life, and the project revives the DIY spirit of the mixtape for today’s digital landscape.

Historically, community arts projects have been the culmination of work between physically close communities, but as FabCafe operates within a network of large international communities, how do you start a community arts project on an international scale? We interviewed Andi and Gwyn, the owners of FabCafe Kuala Lumpur and the organizers of DO IT SMALL, for some insights into their process.

“The concept is to take baby steps as a start,” the team said. “We need and want to learn more about the art community around us, how it works, etc., and so we want to start small and learn by doing. And hopefully we will grow as well.”

In a community arts project, it was integral for the format to be flexible, so there was no jury, no cap on entries, and everything received was exhibited. “We want to have a party with friends and new friends,” they said. “Because it’s a start, we try to open our door, inviting as many creative people we can get and showcase how diverse they are.”

Shots of attendees at the exhibition to view the work of participants.

Making the call global was, in the team’s words, “just trying our luck,” and the result shocked them. “The responses from the artists from all over the world were also truly inspiring and encouraging.”

The call also asked for no AI-generated work, which the team described as a personal preference. “We don’t want AI because we simply love how creative people learn and discover new things from their artistic journey, while AI focuses only on the artistic result. We can find our authentic self from the mistakes, the fightback, the whatever-that-happens-in-between, the i-didn’t-expect-that when we actually create something.”

A community arts exhibition

With over 140 entries, the physical exhibition transformed the gallery as the cassette covers lined the walls. Guests could also interact with the exhibition by scanning a QR code mounted in the space, which opened a digital catalog revealing the story behind every piece.

There were over 140 submissions! 

Although there were no actual cassettes in the covers, music still had a place in the gallery through a collaborative playlist, for which each participant submitted their all-time favorite song and the organizers compiled them into a master playlist.

Positioned alongside the cafe and retail sections, the gallery was a surprising element for new customers who were not familiar with FabCafe, and most of them said it was the first time they had seen art in such a small and interesting format. The prints with the cassette were for sale, and to support affordable art collecting, the team capped prices between MYR 100 (approximately USD 25) and MYR 250 (USD 61), so artists could choose how much to sell their work for.

Shots from the Press Play zine-making workshop.

Complementing the show, participating artist aruznadi led “Press Play,” a zine-making workshop centered on the question “what does your mood sound like today?” She guided participants to create art based on the music they were listening to and how they were feeling, and the team said the results looked like actual cassette cover art.

DO IT SMALL and the future of community arts at FabCafe Kuala Lumpur

MIXTAPE brought new people into FabCafe KL, including friends of the artists and the artists themselves. An artist from Singapore also came to see the exhibition, and many of the Malaysian artists who participated connected with the team for the first time through this exhibition.

Looking ahead to a second edition, the team is thinking of using scrap materials from FabCafe production, as a sustainable act involving art and community, along with more playful media. They are also exploring the concept of art on a postage stamp. The team plans to host a DO IT SMALL exhibition yearly and wants MIXTAPE to move around the world, with some interest already coming from Indonesia and an open invitation to any other FabCafe interested in exhibiting it.

Advice for aspiring community arts organizers

Their advice for creators launching similar initiatives is grounded in practicality. “Just make sure that you have enough energy because once the door opens.. Lots of things can happen. Be ready, so many surprises will come because we’re talking about a creative community!”

FabCafe Kuala Lumpur has facilities that are perfect for supporting community arts projects.

So, how do you start a community arts program when you are still learning your community? You open the door a little, keep the first step small, and save your energy for everyone who walks in. FabCafe Kuala Lumpur is used to working with a network of communities, and with over 14 locations around the world, FabCafe is well placed to support yours too. If you have a creative project rooted in your community, we would love to hear about it and help you get it off the ground.