Badung Prepares Sub-district Level Festivals to Scout Arts Ambassadors for PKB

The Badung Regency Culture Office (Disbud) is currently designing a new formula to scout arts ambassadors for future Bali Arts Festivals (PKB). This step is being taken through plans to reactivate festivals at the sub-district level to uncover artistic potential directly from villages and sub-districts.

“We will revive these sub-district scale festivals. This way, we will not simply pick individuals, but rather select them based on the results of competitions from each sub-district,” said the Head of the Badng Culture Office, I Gede Sukadana, when met at the Giri Nata Mandala Cultural Hall, Badung, Sunday (7/6/2026).

This competition-based selection scheme is expected to refine the team’s evaluation of Badung’s participation in the PKB. Currently, the department is still finalising regulations and discussing the programme with art experts to ensure its swift implementation.

“We are still developing the formula and discussing it, and we hope it can be realised very soon. Any shortcomings will be addressed in the next PKB,” Sukadana added.

In addition to changing the selection system, Sukadana emphasised the importance of introducing renewal and innovation in every parade performance and competition. However, he ensured that all new ideas arising from artists’ creativity will remain within the established patterns and original cultural roots of Badung.

“The hope is that the PKB will not become monotonous; there should be innovations developed, but they must not depart from the cultural essence itself,” Sukadana asserted.

An example of such innovation is the creativity involved in making ‘ogoh-ogoh’, which consistently succeeds in sparking high curiosity and enthusiasm among the public. The government hopes similar catalysts can be applied to all materials within the Badung PKB contingent to ensure they remain highly anticipated by spectators.

Regarding the upcoming PKB agenda, the Badung contingent will participate in all scheduled events and competition categories, including the Peed Aya parade on 13 June, involving 1,250 artists and support staff. The physical, material, and mental readiness of all representatives is reported to be nearly complete ahead of the competition date.

“On the 13th, there will be the Peed Aya parade. As of now, I can report that the contingent’s readiness is at 90 per cent,” Sukadana explained.