Arts festival opens in Palu

PALU, Central Sulawesi: A one-week arts festival, Palu Indonesia Dance Forum, was opened on Friday by Director-General of Tourism Development R. Sarwono to promote Indonesian arts.

The festival, taking place at the city's Gor Park, features various traditional dances, including Reago and Noalu, and music from regencies in Central Sulawesi, including dadendate music.

Chairman of the organizing committee Irwan Mumu said in his report that at least 275 local artists and delegates from Japan and the Netherlands were taking part in the rare occasion.

Irwan cited Hidori Hirata from Nagoya, Japan, and Grace Suzan and Maria Bernadeth A from the Netherlands, as foreign participants.

Discussions on arts and culture would also be held during the festival. "Sapto Rahardjo, a musician from Yogyakarta, Rifky Efendy, a fine arts critic from Bandung, Tjatjo Thaha, a history professor at the University of Tadulako and Sulaiman Mamar, a professor of anthropology of the same university, will be among the speakers in the discussions," Irwan said.

All of the festival events are open to the public. (24/sur)