Big-size artists told to leave Ancol Art Market

JAKARTA (JP): City councilors and PT Pembangunan Jaya, which manages the Ancol Art Market, are urging crafters and painters who have blossomed into sizable businesses to move from the art market in order to create more space for their less-fortunate counterparts.

"Crafters whose businesses have grown considerably should move somewhere else on their own accord as should successful painters because they can afford to open their own galleries elsewhere," said Joko Suwindi, the deputy chairman of the City Council's Commission B on economic affairs.

Joko visited the art market yesterday together with other members of Commission B and city officials.

O.H. Panggabean, PT Pembangunan Jaya's deputy director, said that the art market, designed for small-scale painters and crafters, offers low rental prices for kiosks and workshops. At the art market the crafters and painters sell their products directly to buyers.

But no rules are in place to regulate how long they are allowed to stay.

Hence, Panggabean said, the company is appealing to those who operate thriving businesses to show consideration for their numerous small-scale counterparts who hope to develop their businesses in the market.

Kosasih Kuswari, the chief of the Ancol Art Market, said however, that not everyone ignored PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol's appeal. Some owners who had reaped large profits from the market responded positively. "More than 10 painters have so far moved out and set up art galleries in other places," Kosasih said.

Previous year

Last year 20 painters, for example, decided to leave the art market because their businesses had flourished so much that they no longer needed the market to promote their businesses, Kosasih said.

Painters have the highest turnover, said Kosasih, adding that about 10 percent of all the painters operating there move out each year.

Panggabean said that 12 crafters at the market are currently exporting their work to Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.

Kosasih said while the Ancol Art Market offers low rental rates for small-scale painters and crafters, it also offers normal rental rates for traders.

Fifteen traders are in the business of selling decorative stones, one of them sells gem stones, and 66 crafters make and sell traditional souvenirs. All of them are charged normal rates, Kosasih said.

"There are some traders who pay rental fees as high as Rp 500,000 (US$230) a month," Kosasih said.

Those offered a very low rate are novice painters and crafters who show promising artistic talent, Kosasih said.

Painters are charged Rp 30,000 per month per kiosk and crafters Rp 40,000, he said, adding the prices include electricity, water and security bills.

Kosasih said that PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol spends between Rp 1.2 billion to Rp 1.3 billion every year to operate the art market and receives Rp 750 million in rental fees. (arf)