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.