Badung Prepares Regional Regulation to Curb Pornographic Joged Dance and Commercialisation of Sacred Arts
The Badung Regency Government, together with the Badung Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), is currently drafting a Regional Regulation on Cultural Arts Preservation to protect local artistic works from excessive commercialisation. The regulation is also being prepared to take firm action against the widespread staging of pornographic or indecent joged dance performances and the misuse of sacred arts.
“These sanctions are not intended to restrict freedom of expression, but rather to address performances that fall outside ethics and morality, such as lewd joged dance. Enforcement will be carried out in stages, from warnings to permit revocation,” said I Nyoman Graha Wicaksana, Chair of the Special Committee for the Regional Regulation on Cultural Arts Preservation and Chair of Commission IV of the Badung DPRD, on Thursday (20/8/2026).
The PDIP politician from Kuta explained that the regional government has an obligation to provide protection, guidance, and utilisation of cultural arts. This step was taken in response to various complaints from artists, ranging from low performance wage standards for tourism to cost constraints when receiving invitations outside the region.
“This regional regulation explicitly requires the government to be present as a mentor and servant for artists. Through this regulation, we will also establish the Bali Cultural Council to strengthen synergy with the Badung Regency Government,” said Graha.
The Bali Cultural Council will serve as a mediation platform and an educational tool for the community so that the sacred values of Balinese arts do not fade. He emphasised the need for public understanding so that regional arts are not easily commercialised.
“This education is important because the costumes or headdresses used in joged dance are actually sacred, but they are often treated as ordinary by those who do not understand. If the connotation becomes negative, Balinese culture is demeaned and looked down upon by outsiders,” he said.
In addition to regulating enforcement and guidance, the draft regulation also accommodates the granting of awards and special appreciation for artists who have contributed to developing cultural arts in Badung. Discussion of the regulation has now entered the internal harmonisation stage with relevant agencies before being passed in a plenary session.
“After this, we will hold internal meetings with the Culture Agency, Tourism Agency, and Education and Sports Agency to summarise input. We are targeting that within the next two months this draft regulation will be completed and can be brought directly to a plenary session,” concluded Graha.