RI Performing Arts Mart links artists to the world

RI Performing Arts Mart links artists to the world

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Nusa Dua, Bali

Indonesian artistes were given an opportunity to showcase their
work in the second Indonesian Performing Arts Mart (IPAM) at Nusa
Dua Beach Hotel, Nusa Dua resort, and Arma Museum, Ubud, Gianyar,
which ended on Thursday.

In this event, jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture
and Tourism and local event organizer Gelar Indonesian Strategic
Cultural Communication, national artists were exposed to
international "buyers" -- comprising art impresarios, event
organizers, art institutions, cultural centers, art directors and
the like -- hopefully to close a deal.

This year, the organizer also combined both traditional and
contemporary performing arts. Participants included Indonesia's
most accomplished artists such as Topeng Mimi Rasinah from
Indramayu, West Java, noted dancer and choreographer Miroto from
Yogyakarta, Boy.G. Sakti and Gumarang Sakti dance troupe,
Surakarta Hadiningrat traditional dance troupe from Surakarta
royal palace, Central Java, Arti Foundation from Bali, legendary
Balinese dancer Ni Ketut Cenik and many other talented artists
and groups from all over Indonesia.

Sri Hastanto, the ministry's deputy chief of the arts and film
department, expressed hope that the mart could help to put
Indonesian traditional and contemporary performing arts on the
world map. The mart precedes the annual Bali Arts Festival.

"The international arts community rarely recognizes the great
potential of Indonesian performing art forms because of lack of
promotion and exposure on the world stage," Hastanto said at the
media gathering before the opening of the festival on Tuesday.

Indonesia, he said, lagged behind other Asian countries such
as China, India and Japan.

Promotion has been carried out since 2003 when the ministry
opened the first IPAM, also in Nusa Dua.

"The event was aimed at building a meeting point where
artists, artist management and event organizers from around the
world could build closer relationships and provide an opportunity
for local artists to perform in overseas countries," he said.

Compared to similar events in neighboring countries, like
Tokyo Performing Arts in Japan and the Singapore Arts Festival,
IPAM is still not yet up to expectations.

"We realize there are so many shortcomings in organizing IPAM;
we still have to make improvements here and there," he added.

According to IPAM director Surya Yoga, the festival audience
was limited to buyers only, and closed to the public.

As many as 33 prospective buyers from Italy, the Netherlands,
Belgium, Britain, Singapore, Cambodia, Japan, Australia, the
United States, Mexico, and Brazil were expected to attend the
festival.

Bram Kusharyanto from Gelar event organizer expressed his wish
that at least five arts groups would be able to establish
cooperation with buyers, so that they might be able to perform in
overseas countries.

Hastanto added that other arts groups from around Indonesia
would be invited to take part in next year's events. "Indonesia
has diverse performing arts forms," he said.

Kadek Suardana from the Arti Foundation was worried that
people would think that the participants at this year's event had
a close connection to the ministry and the organizer.

"We badly need an art curator who can appreciate and select
the best groups," Kadek said.

He assumed that his participation in the event was aimed at
promoting Gambuh classical drama as one of the most valued
performance art forms in Bali and in Indonesia in general.

Nonetheless, we shall have to wait and see whether an art mart
can benefit both artists in dire need of financial support and
international exposure, and the country, too.