Serious art forms needed: Official<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A recently-concluded national arts festival has
\nshown that people need more than just entertainment; they need
\nmore serious art forms, according to a senior official of the
\nMinistry of Education and Culture.<\/p>\n
Many of the artistic performances at Art Summit Indonesia
\n1995, which ran from Sept. 23 to Oct. 12, were sold out. The
\nfestival involved 15 contemporary arts groups from nine
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
"I hope the event has left an impression (of contemporary
\narts) with a large section of the public," Edi Sedyawati,
\nDirector General of Culture, said on Friday.<\/p>\n
Her own impression, she said, is that "the public needs and
\nlikes forms of art which are more than simply entertaining."<\/p>\n
Edi, author of a book on the growth of the performing arts in
\nIndonesia, is not discouraged by the current greater acceptance
\nof mass entertainment.<\/p>\n
"That's just a matter of public relations ... of changing the
\npublic's view. It is a challenge to encourage the growth of more
\nserious arts ... to create the need for those arts which not only
\nentertain for a few moments, but which also enrich the soul," she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
While acknowledging that the traditional arts promoted by the
\ntourist industry are mostly limited to a form of entertainment,
\nEdi said the Ministry of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications
\nmust be given credit for asking all hotels to hold performances
\nof traditional music on a regular basis.<\/p>\n
"Greater efforts need to be made on the part of the artists
\nthemselves," she added.<\/p>\n
Edi dismissed the view that the government has not been
\nserious about promoting the arts.<\/p>\n
"The government has always been serious, although it does
\ndepend on the vision of the officials in charge," she said. Edi
\nsaid the establishment of the Jakarta Arts Council in 1969, on
\nwhich she once served, was an indication of the government's
\ncommitment to fostering the arts.<\/p>\n
Also on Friday, Edi announced a plan to hold an arts congress
\nin Jakarta on December 4-7.<\/p>\n
The congress is intended as an opportunity to reflect on the
\nstate of the Indonesian arts scene, she said. It is also aimed at
\nstimulating more local art experts to conduct studies in their
\nspecific fields.<\/p>\n
"Most experts on our arts are foreigners," Edi said. (anr)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/serious-art-forms-needed-official-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }