Art and culture for tourists

Art and culture for tourists

President Soeharto has declared 1998 the Year of Art and
Culture to strengthen the nation's identity and to lure foreign
tourists in this time of crisis. The Jakarta Post's reporters
Budiman Moerdijat, Devi M. Asmarani, Dwi Atmanta, Edith Hartanto,
Stevie Emilia, Oka Budhi Yogaswara, and Meidyatama Suryodiningrat
and contributors Rita A. Widiadana and Amir Sidharta
look at the meaning of this year's theme. Related stories are on
Page 3 and Page 11.

JAKARTA (JP): The government's declaration of 1998 as the Year
of Art and Culture sparks curiosity about what constitutes art
and culture.

Many questions surround the intentions behind the selection of
such a theme. Is it aimed at preserving and boosting Indonesian
art and culture? Or is it merely designed to exploit our cultural
heritage to bring in badly needed U.S. dollars through the
tourism industry?

The significance of art and culture in relation to the theme
declared by the government still needs clarification as there are
differing perceptions between those in the art field and
officials.

For a country which professes to have a long history and rich
culture the declaration is understandable.

"It seems to me that the government's declaration is only
aimed at promoting performing arts for tourists," said Catholic
priest, novelist, architect and social worker Y.B. Mangunwijaya.

"I'm doubtful that literature development, for instance, will
be part of this campaign," he added.

The Ministry of Education and Culture's director general of
cultural affairs, Edi Sedyawati, admits that the Year of Art and
Culture is part of the government program launched in 1993 to
boost tourist development and promotion.

She concedes that there was little preparation or consultation
with artists prior to announcing the designation.

"We were just overwhelmed and suddenly realized that this year
is the Year of Art and Culture. So we haven't had any discussion
with the artists. It's a good idea though ... maybe we'll do it
soon," Edi said.

A member of the Jakarta Arts Foundation's boards of directors,
Toety Herati Noerhadi, said the declaration was dubious at best.

She pointed out that two ministers, Minister of Education and
Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro and Minister of Tourism, Post and
Telecommunications Joop Ave, accompanied President Soeharto when
making the announcement of 1998 as the Year of Art and Culture.

"I wonder why these two ministers had to appear together with
the President? If it was all about arts and culture, the
President should only be escorted by Minister Wardiman since arts
and culture are under his ministry's auspices.

"With the presence of Joop Ave, I assumed that the
government's art and cultural schemes will be closely linked to
its tourism programs," Toety said.

She believes the move may only be a strategy to help ease the
troubled economy.

"We have to accept the fact that we are not so accomplished in
the fields of science and technology, trade and finance. Arts and
Culture is then regarded as Indonesia's last treasure that can be
exploited and promoted to draw foreign exchange revenues to help
ease the country's financial crisis," remarked Toety, who is a
professor of philosophy at the University of Indonesia.

Composer and performing arts festival organizer Franki Raden
is pleased, despite having some trepidations.

He realizes that the government's efforts are tied to tourism
drives.

"For me, it's apparent that the campaign is not simply about
promoting the arts and culture, it is mostly intended to lure
foreign visitors to Indonesia and at the same time to obtain
foreign exchange from them," Franki said.

The emphasis on tourism promotion can be easily understood as
it is one of the country's top two foreign exchange earners.

However several events such as the forest fires have made
Indonesia less attractive, and Indonesia is in need of something
which can rekindle the attention of sojourners.

Joop Ave in a year-end briefing said the growth in foreign
tourist arrivals would likely fall below earlier assumptions.

"The country's tourism is suffering. This is not a laughing
matter. This is very serious," he said. "We have never
experienced anything like this."

Freedom

The overemphasis toward tourism also poses the threat of
reducing arts and culture into little more than commercial
moneyspinners.

Forgotten is the need for greater freedom and aesthetical
expression, themes which the Year of Art and Culture should
promote.

Toety hopes that the government will at least provide a
conducive atmosphere to enhance artistic creativity.

"I'm concerned at the government's policy of censorship.
Bannings have curbed the distribution of artists' creative works.
We need some courage to find alternative solutions such as a
dialog and discussion forum," she said.

Edi said she was opposed to bannings as freedom of expression
is badly needed here because people cannot create anything if
their spirit is dead or their freedom fettered.

"It's everybody right to create. But basically, a person has
to be aware of the limitations. As long as they do not step on
anybody else's rights, things will be all right," she remarked.

She pointed out, however, there were a wide range of parties
who might take advantage of the situation by deliberately
creating chaos.

As it was apparently prepared in haste with little
consultation with cultural circles, no major events have so far
been planned by either the public or private sectors.

"I am still wondering what it actually means, and what to do.
It came as a great surprise to us!" said artist Nunung WS.

Toety believes the government must clarify its programs.

"If we talk about culture, it will be very complex as culture
embraces all aspects of life. Arts, politics, the economy,
science and technology. People's ways of life and attitudes are
parts of our culture. Culture combines traditional, or ethnic,
and modern substances into an entity," she said.

"Culture has a very broad definition and interpretation.
Therefore, we must be careful in using the term culture. The
government must be more precise in using any terminology."

If the Year of Art and Culture can be narrowed to deal only
with art activities, the government can thus focus its programs,
she said.