AKADEMI SENI KEBANGSAAN (ASK) which was established in 1994 under the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism Malaysia is now known as AKADEMI SENI BUDAYA DAN WARISAN KEBANGSAAN (ASWARA) in August 1, 2006. ASWARA is the only institution of higher learning in the field of performancing arts that is supported entirely by the Government of Malaysia under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Malaysia. It is an institution of higher learning to provide a space for learning, research and academic publications and professional advisory services in the field of arts, culture and heritage aimed at producing skilled artists and practitioners who are competent in their fields besides strengthening the sustainability of the national arts heritage