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.