Arts community waits and sees on year ahead

By Rita A. Widiadana

JAKARTA (JP): Local artists must be jumping for joy after the declaration of 1998 as the Year of Arts and Culture, right?

Mixed emotions would be a better description.

After weathering years of funding struggles, inadequate infrastructure and perplexing bureaucratic regulations, artists were either bluntly skeptical of the government's move or qualified in their praise.

Contemporary composer Franki Raden said he was pleased by the official recognition of the arts' importance to the people.

"In my opinion, the government's statement in theory suggests that art and cultural activities would be made top priority in 1998," said the busy organizer of performing arts festivals.

"But in practice, the government must be more specific in defining its art and cultural programs."

He said there was often a gaping divide between the official line on what art was acceptable -- and how to what ends it should be used -- and views of the artistic community itself. A middle ground would have to be reached for effectiveness of programs.

Government cultural efforts were often tied to tourism drives, he said.

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

While Franki believed foreign tourists were drawn by the country's natural beauty and rich traditions, he claimed tourist agencies were often guilty of lumping cultural events in ersatz packages deemed fit for public consumption.

In what he described as a form of cultural distortion, numerous sacred Balinese dances are routinely performed in hotels and entertainment centers, stripping away their artistic and spiritual value.

He said this did not have to be the avenue for promoting the arts.

"I am convinced there are many ways to foster our art and cultural legacy without sacrificing its artistic, philosophical and religious values."

Noted choreographer Sardono W. Kusumo had similar views to Franki's.

In Kompas daily, Sardono said the nation could promote its culture on the world stage if the government paid attention to development of cultural infrastructure, including performance facilities of international-standard concert halls and equipment.

He was also circumspect about the government's support of culture within a tourist promotion framework.

"Various arts and cultural performances are packaged as commodities to be sold to 'potential buyers' -- tourists -- as mass market products," Sardono commented.

In the short term, the country benefits from the flood of tourist arrivals. But the approach is an almost certain course for destruction of artistic heritage over the long term.

Sardono urged the government to adopt different viewpoints in promoting arts and culture before it was too late.

"Indonesia could probably learn from our closest neighbor, Singapore, in the promotion of arts," Sardono said.

The tiny city state, with a fraction of Indonesia's natural and cultural riches, has nevertheless positioned itself as one of the region's major tourist draws because of its cultural offerings.

The secret to its success lies in strategy and planning.

It has put in place high-quality infrastructure to support its cultural programs, and worked hard to preserve traditional arts and nurture contemporary works. World-class artists frequently perform in Singapore's concert halls and venues.

"It is very difficult to bring artists with international reputations to perform in Indonesia because we don't have suitable concert halls," Sardono said.

Farida Oetoyo, director of Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (GKJ), the country's only playhouse, agreed this was an area that needed improvement.

GKJ is in an uphill struggle to maintain quality and keep funds coming in.

The respected dancer and choreographer hoped the government would help solve GKJ's chronic financial woes as part of the year's activities.

"It is lamentable that the Year of Art and Culture was declared at a time when our country is hit by a serious financial crisis. For us, this is the year to tighten our belts, to curtail our budget."

Farida and her staff have prepared several strategies to meet worst case scenarios. International standard and lavish performances seem out of the question amid cash constraints.

While GKJ plans to maintain annual fixtures, such as the Schouwburg Festival and the Jakarta Performing Arts Festival, Farida said "we will cut days of performances, for example, from 10 days to only two or three days in an attempt to reduce production costs and other expenses."

Another major event scheduled this year will be the government-sponsored Arts Summit 1998.

Farida also expected foreign cultural centers to continue their cultural program, but she was cautious.

"But, I don't want to be overly optimistic. I think we must be more realistic. This will probably not be a bright year for the country's economy, as well as its social and political life. It is hard to estimate whether this condition will affect artistic and cultural endeavors," she said.

"In the last few years when Indonesia's economy was still robust, we found it very difficult to stage various art and cultural performances due to a lack of funds. In the current condition, it is just a wishful thinking to expect more."

Ratna Riantiarno, a manager of the Teater Koma acting troupe and member of the Jakarta Arts Council, believed the most important act this year would be to launch a cohesive strategy and integrate programs to support art and cultural activities.

"I think it is a good opportunity for local artists, the government and other related parties to find ways together to solve the core problems that have hindered the development of art and culture in Indonesia, rather than staging ceremonial and extravagant art performances to commemorate the Year of Arts and Culture."