Big-size artists told to leave Ancol Art Market
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)