Officials no show at art show

BENGKULU: Local officials here are said to have little appreciation for the arts.

The head of the provincial office of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Mardansyah, said such a failure was evident in the low attendence of officials at yesterday's opening of the Bengkulu-Padang Panjang Art Festival here.

"The opening is evidence of this fact. Out of 50 invitations I personally signed, only one or two officials attended," he said as quoted by Antara.

"Officials from my own office who were absent will be given sanctions," he said without elaborating on the kind of penalty he would impose.