STORIES
The Ultimate Guide to PJ's Arts and Creative Scene
Hey PJ! Have you ever heard of PJPAC or DPAC? If you've hung out in PJ long enough, you’ve probably driven past them or heard of them at least once. They are, after all, two of the biggest theatres in PJ.
But the arts scene here is much more than that. There's a gallery in Kelana Jaya that serious collectors actually travel for, an underground electronic music space running in an industrial unit, a camera store collab that turned into a whole creative community, and many more.
It's a lot more varied than most people realise, and worth exploring. Come, we bring you go jalan-jalan around PJ’s art scene.
DeSTAGE Theatre
DeSTAGE is an independent theatre inside Jaya One, and honestly, the range here a bit gila one.
You’ll find family-friendly children's productions like STUCK (based on Oliver Jeffers' bestselling picture book) and productions like Joanne Kam's Boom Boom Room Reborn — sharp satire, full cabaret chaos. They even run Relaxed Performances for families with special needs, where sound levels are lowered, and kids are free to move around.
So, whether you're bringing your seven-year-old or your most chaotic friend, DeSTAGE definitely has something for you.
Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPAC)
Tucked inside the very iconic 1 Utama, PJPAC is PJ's most established arts centre, and home to some of its biggest shows. The Stage 1 Theatre seats 684 and covers serious ground — musicals, jazz recitals, international acts, stand-up comedy. The Nero Event Space runs alongside it as a flexible black box for more experimental work.
Their programmes are always filled with something for everyone — literally. One month it's a local musical built around a char koay teow hawker stall (if you’ve heard of Fortune Kooky, you probably know what we’re talking about). The next, a full orchestral Best of Anime concert with the younger crowd going wild. Whatever you're into, PJPAC has got a show for you.
Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC)
Opened in 2013 inside Empire Damansara, DPAC was built with a specific mission: to give local dancers, actors, and musicians a proper platform without having to leave the country to find one — and it shows.
DPAC goes beyond being a stage for hire. In fact, it runs the Adopt an Artist Programme, where emerging talents get free studio space, resources, and direct professional mentorship. They also co-established the Damansara Community Cultural Association (PKKD) to lower financial barriers to the arts in the community. This is a venue that takes its role in PJ seriously.
G13 Gallery
If you've never been to an art gallery before, G13 in Kelana Jaya is a good place to start. The exhibitions rotate throughout the year — Malaysian contemporary art across different mediums, from abstract paintings to ceramic sculptures. And it’s free entry.
The space itself is big, spread across multiple shop lots with different exhibition halls. That means, the art actually has room to breathe. The gallery director is known for being approachable and happy to talk you through the pieces, so don't worry if you don't know anything about art. Nobody's going to make you feel like you don't belong here.
Oh, and parking is easy — ample spots right in front of the gallery. No need to pusing-pusing ten rounds before finding a spot like winning lottery.
Moonkitaa House
You know those really aesthetic interiors you see on local brand pages and immediately want for your own home?
Moonkitaa is where you’ll find them. Hidden in an older PJ residential neighbourhood, it's a gallery, a furniture showroom, and an event venue all rolled into one. Local brands and photographers book it for shoots because the mid-century modern and retro furniture really takes every shot to the next level. But you can go just to browse and shop — they carry curated decor and furniture pieces that are very much worth the visit, and a space in your own home.
N4 Camera Store X Artishutter
Most camera stores will sell you the gear and send you on your way. N4 and Artishutter had a different idea.
Their joint space at JioSpace is built around actually learning how to use your camera — technical workshops, street photography meetups, sensor-cleaning clinics, and many more. Even Robin Wong, one of Malaysia's most well-known photographers, has dropped by for hands-on previews of major camera releases.
If you've been wanting to get more serious about photography, this is your sign.
Theatres, galleries, underground music, and creative studios… PJ's arts scene has range, and it's only getting bigger.
So if you're into art or just looking for something new to do on a weekend, pick a place from this list, grab your friends, and go.
You might just find your new favourite spot.
