Two investors eyeing TIM project<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Two private investors have expressed interest in
\nhelping finance the Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) art center
\nrenovation project in Central Jakarta, an official said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Wiyogo Atmodarminto, chairman of Kesenian Jakarta Foundation,
\nwhich is in charge of raising funds for the project, said the two
\ninvestors had proposed to develop the Grand Theater, one of the
\nmain buildings of the renovation project.<\/p>\n
\"We don't know which investors we want to select, whether it
\nis only one, or both of them,\" Wiyogo told reporters after
\nmeeting Governor Surjadi Soedirdja to report the latest
\ndevelopment of the project at City Hall.<\/p>\n
He declined however to identify the private investors. He said
\nthat the municipality would study their proposals before
\nselections.<\/p>\n
\"The investors' help will be focused on the development of the
\nGrand Theater. If we depend on municipality funds without the
\nhelp of private investors, it will take a long time to finish the
\nproject,\" Wiyogo, who is a former Jakarta governor, said.<\/p>\n
The new Rp 91 billion (US$37.2 million) theater, with a seat
\ncapacity of 1,200, is expected to be completed in 1998, he said.<\/p>\n
The municipality had earlier promised to allocate only Rp 40
\nbillion for the project over three fiscal years. Private
\ninvestors are expected to help provide remaining funds.<\/p>\n
The Grand Theater will also be equipped with two small
\ntheaters with a 300-seat capacity each. The small theaters will
\nbe used for small-scale performances, exhibitions and other art
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
The renovation of the entire 5.5-hectare complex will cost Rp
\n230 billion and is scheduled to be completed in 15 years.<\/p>\n
According to the plan, the complex, containing a movie
\ntheater, an art academy and an exhibition hall, will be divided
\ninto four zones, with a 12-story office building, a three-star,
\neight-story hotel with 1,000 rooms, a new modern theater, an
\nexhibition hall and a new Jakarta art institute campus.<\/p>\n
Head of the city cultural agency, Azhari Baedlawi, said late
\nlast year two other private investors, Lippo Group and Bank
\nNiaga, had also expressed interest in providing the remaining
\nfunds.<\/p>\n
In return, they wanted to manage the center's parking
\nfacilities, office buildings and hotels, he said.<\/p>\n
Azhari said yesterday that the cooperation with Lippo Group
\nand Bank Niaga would be based on a 'build, operate and transfer'
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
However, it was not known how far their cooperation had
\ndeveloped.<\/p>\n
Workers<\/p>\n
After the meeting, Azhari said that the city had not made any
\ndecision whether to dismiss or keep the center's 60 employees.<\/p>\n
\"A team has been assigned to evaluate whether the city will
\ncontinue employing the workers or not. Currently they are still
\nworking,\" Azhari said.<\/p>\n
The renovation of the art center began in June 1996 with
\nstate-owned building firm PT Pembangunan Perumahan as its main
\ncontractor. The old, open-air theater was pulled down in June
\n1996 and the construction of the new basement of the modern
\ntheater is now under way.<\/p>\n
The designs of the buildings as well as the electrical network
\nare being done by the Atelier 6 Group, chaired by architect Adhi
\nMoersid. (ste)<\/p>",
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