Art council holds writing contests

JAKARTA (JP): To promote creative writing, Jakarta Arts Council is holding playwriting and romance novel competitions for avid wordsmiths.

After a 16-year absence -- it was held annually between 1975 and 1981 -- the competitions were kicked off in November last year and will run until Feb. 20.

The playwriting contest has one category for adult plays and another for children's plays, with all contributions to be original and not inspired by western works.

The winners will receive Rp 7.5 million for the best novel category, Rp 5 million for best adult play and Rp 3.5 million for best children's play.

The prize money for second places are Rp 6 million, Rp 4 million and Rp 2.5 million respectively, while those coming in third will get Rp 4.5 million, Rp 3 million and Rp 2 million respectively.

Fourth place-getters in the best novel, best adult playwriting and best children's playwriting categories will be awarded Rp 3 million, Rp 2 million and Rp 1 million respectively, while those in fifth place go home with Rp 1.5 million, Rp 1 million and Rp 1 million respectively.

The winners will be announced on Mar. 11.

Whether the work is a tragedy, comedy or a combination, writers are free to choose their own theme. But plays and novels must never have been performed, broadcast or published.

The adult plays must have a minimum running time of two hours while children's plays must last an hour and 15 minutes. Novels should be about 150 pages long.

Entrants must be Indonesian citizens and their work submitted in Indonesia and typed with double-spacing. The authors must send five copies of their work to Dewan Kesenian Jakarta, Jl. Cikini Raya 73, Central Jakarta, by Feb. 17. (02)