Betawi Cultural Center a work in progress
<p>Betawi Cultural Center a work in progress</p><p>Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta</p><p> Anyone who turned up at the newly opened Betawi Center on Monday
expecting to view books, pictures and documents on the Betawi
ethnic group would have discovered that the center remains a work
in progress.</p><p>Governor Sutiyoso officially opened on Friday the Center for
Betawi Art, Culture, Education and Studies at the Jakarta State
University (UNJ). The center is expected to promote and
illuminate native Jakarta art and culture, both locally and
internationally.</p><p>Sarnadi Adam, chairman of the Betawi Center, said the
institution was looking at 2010 as the date by which it hoped to
introduce Betawi culture to large audiences both at home and
abroad.</p><p>"Currently, we do not have any space or offices for the
center. It is a work in progress but we are working to make the
center a dependable source of information on Betawi culture," he
said.</p><p>However, Rien Safrina, an assistant to the dean of the School
of Languages and Culture at the UNJ, told The Jakarta Post that
the university had proposed a budget of between Rp 4 billion
(US$449,438) and Rp 5 billion to establish the Betawi Center, but
the proposal was turned down by the city administration and the
government.</p><p>"For now, we will only be promoting Betawi culture through
events that present Betawi dancing, music and paintings," she
said.</p><p>It remains unclear why the governor officiated over the
opening of an institution that is only a work in progress.</p><p>Antara reported that after inaugurating the center, Sutiyoso
donated Rp 150 million for the establishment of a mosque on the
campus of the university.</p><p>As Jakarta has grown and become more cosmopolitan, the Betawi
people have seen their influence wane.</p><p>In response, many Betawi people have formed groups and
associations to demand more recognition from the city
administration as the original inhabitants of Jakarta.</p>
expecting to view books, pictures and documents on the Betawi
ethnic group would have discovered that the center remains a work
in progress.</p><p>Governor Sutiyoso officially opened on Friday the Center for
Betawi Art, Culture, Education and Studies at the Jakarta State
University (UNJ). The center is expected to promote and
illuminate native Jakarta art and culture, both locally and
internationally.</p><p>Sarnadi Adam, chairman of the Betawi Center, said the
institution was looking at 2010 as the date by which it hoped to
introduce Betawi culture to large audiences both at home and
abroad.</p><p>"Currently, we do not have any space or offices for the
center. It is a work in progress but we are working to make the
center a dependable source of information on Betawi culture," he
said.</p><p>However, Rien Safrina, an assistant to the dean of the School
of Languages and Culture at the UNJ, told The Jakarta Post that
the university had proposed a budget of between Rp 4 billion
(US$449,438) and Rp 5 billion to establish the Betawi Center, but
the proposal was turned down by the city administration and the
government.</p><p>"For now, we will only be promoting Betawi culture through
events that present Betawi dancing, music and paintings," she
said.</p><p>It remains unclear why the governor officiated over the
opening of an institution that is only a work in progress.</p><p>Antara reported that after inaugurating the center, Sutiyoso
donated Rp 150 million for the establishment of a mosque on the
campus of the university.</p><p>As Jakarta has grown and become more cosmopolitan, the Betawi
people have seen their influence wane.</p><p>In response, many Betawi people have formed groups and
associations to demand more recognition from the city
administration as the original inhabitants of Jakarta.</p>