Art and culture for tourists<\/p>\n
President Soeharto has declared 1998 the Year of Art and
\nCulture to strengthen the nation's identity and to lure foreign
\ntourists in this time of crisis. The Jakarta Post's reporters
\nBudiman Moerdijat, Devi M. Asmarani, Dwi Atmanta, Edith Hartanto,
\nStevie Emilia, Oka Budhi Yogaswara, and Meidyatama Suryodiningrat
\nand contributors Rita A. Widiadana and Amir Sidharta
\nlook at the meaning of this year's theme. Related stories are on
\nPage 3 and Page 11.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government's declaration of 1998 as the Year
\nof Art and Culture sparks curiosity about what constitutes art
\nand culture.<\/p>\n
Many questions surround the intentions behind the selection of
\nsuch a theme. Is it aimed at preserving and boosting Indonesian
\nart and culture? Or is it merely designed to exploit our cultural
\nheritage to bring in badly needed U.S. dollars through the
\ntourism industry?<\/p>\n
The significance of art and culture in relation to the theme
\ndeclared by the government still needs clarification as there are
\ndiffering perceptions between those in the art field and
\nofficials.<\/p>\n
For a country which professes to have a long history and rich
\nculture the declaration is understandable.<\/p>\n
"It seems to me that the government's declaration is only
\naimed at promoting performing arts for tourists," said Catholic
\npriest, novelist, architect and social worker Y.B. Mangunwijaya.<\/p>\n
"I'm doubtful that literature development, for instance, will
\nbe part of this campaign," he added.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Education and Culture's director general of
\ncultural affairs, Edi Sedyawati, admits that the Year of Art and
\nCulture is part of the government program launched in 1993 to
\nboost tourist development and promotion.<\/p>\n
She concedes that there was little preparation or consultation
\nwith artists prior to announcing the designation.<\/p>\n
"We were just overwhelmed and suddenly realized that this year
\nis the Year of Art and Culture. So we haven't had any discussion
\nwith the artists. It's a good idea though ... maybe we'll do it
\nsoon," Edi said.<\/p>\n
A member of the Jakarta Arts Foundation's boards of directors,
\nToety Herati Noerhadi, said the declaration was dubious at best.<\/p>\n
She pointed out that two ministers, Minister of Education and
\nCulture Wardiman Djojonegoro and Minister of Tourism, Post and
\nTelecommunications Joop Ave, accompanied President Soeharto when
\nmaking the announcement of 1998 as the Year of Art and Culture.<\/p>\n
"I wonder why these two ministers had to appear together with
\nthe President? If it was all about arts and culture, the
\nPresident should only be escorted by Minister Wardiman since arts
\nand culture are under his ministry's auspices.<\/p>\n
"With the presence of Joop Ave, I assumed that the
\ngovernment's art and cultural schemes will be closely linked to
\nits tourism programs," Toety said.<\/p>\n
She believes the move may only be a strategy to help ease the
\ntroubled economy.<\/p>\n
"We have to accept the fact that we are not so accomplished in
\nthe fields of science and technology, trade and finance. Arts and
\nCulture is then regarded as Indonesia's last treasure that can be
\nexploited and promoted to draw foreign exchange revenues to help
\nease the country's financial crisis," remarked Toety, who is a
\nprofessor of philosophy at the University of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Composer and performing arts festival organizer Franki Raden
\nis pleased, despite having some trepidations.<\/p>\n
He realizes that the government's efforts are tied to tourism
\ndrives.<\/p>\n
"For me, it's apparent that the campaign is not simply about
\npromoting the arts and culture, it is mostly intended to lure
\nforeign visitors to Indonesia and at the same time to obtain
\nforeign exchange from them," Franki said.<\/p>\n
The emphasis on tourism promotion can be easily understood as
\nit is one of the country's top two foreign exchange earners.<\/p>\n
However several events such as the forest fires have made
\nIndonesia less attractive, and Indonesia is in need of something
\nwhich can rekindle the attention of sojourners.<\/p>\n
Joop Ave in a year-end briefing said the growth in foreign
\ntourist arrivals would likely fall below earlier assumptions.<\/p>\n
"The country's tourism is suffering. This is not a laughing
\nmatter. This is very serious," he said. "We have never
\nexperienced anything like this."<\/p>\n
Freedom<\/p>\n
The overemphasis toward tourism also poses the threat of
\nreducing arts and culture into little more than commercial
\nmoneyspinners.<\/p>\n
Forgotten is the need for greater freedom and aesthetical
\nexpression, themes which the Year of Art and Culture should
\npromote.<\/p>\n
Toety hopes that the government will at least provide a
\nconducive atmosphere to enhance artistic creativity.<\/p>\n
"I'm concerned at the government's policy of censorship.
\nBannings have curbed the distribution of artists' creative works.
\nWe need some courage to find alternative solutions such as a
\ndialog and discussion forum," she said.<\/p>\n
Edi said she was opposed to bannings as freedom of expression
\nis badly needed here because people cannot create anything if
\ntheir spirit is dead or their freedom fettered.<\/p>\n
"It's everybody right to create. But basically, a person has
\nto be aware of the limitations. As long as they do not step on
\nanybody else's rights, things will be all right," she remarked.<\/p>\n
She pointed out, however, there were a wide range of parties
\nwho might take advantage of the situation by deliberately
\ncreating chaos.<\/p>\n
As it was apparently prepared in haste with little
\nconsultation with cultural circles, no major events have so far
\nbeen planned by either the public or private sectors.<\/p>\n
"I am still wondering what it actually means, and what to do.
\nIt came as a great surprise to us!" said artist Nunung WS.<\/p>\n
Toety believes the government must clarify its programs.<\/p>\n
"If we talk about culture, it will be very complex as culture
\nembraces all aspects of life. Arts, politics, the economy,
\nscience and technology. People's ways of life and attitudes are
\nparts of our culture. Culture combines traditional, or ethnic,
\nand modern substances into an entity," she said.<\/p>\n
"Culture has a very broad definition and interpretation.
\nTherefore, we must be careful in using the term culture. The
\ngovernment must be more precise in using any terminology."<\/p>\n
If the Year of Art and Culture can be narrowed to deal only
\nwith art activities, the government can thus focus its programs,
\nshe said.<\/p>",
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