Rp 10 billion Art Summit to kick off Aug. 29

JAKARTA (JP): Art lovers will again have a chance to enjoy world-class performances from 10 countries during the one-month- long Art Summit Indonesia III that will kick off on Aug. 27.

It will feature 17 arts, music and contemporary theater groups from Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Egypt, Italy, England, the Netherlands, Germany and Indonesia.

The festival will be officially launched in Plaza Senayan, while the performances are to take place in Taman Ismail Marzuki and the Jakarta Playhouse (GKJ).

"The opening will be held in Plaza Senayan to avoid the impression that the festival is an exclusive event," Director General of Culture, Arts and Film, Sri Hastanto, who is the organizer, said.

The festival will cost Rp 10 billion, he said. A total of Rp 3.1 billion is being provided by the national budget, with Rp 3.5 billion from sponsors and the rest from the participants.

He said that the festival, which would be covered by about 100 members of the local and foreign media, was expected to attract up to 50,000 visitors.

He also said that it was aimed for the event to become a forum for intensifying the interrelation of nations through the arts, and for promoting Indonesian arts and culture to the world.

Indonesia is represented by Teater Koma, led by N. Riantiarno, and Teater Payung Hitam, led by Rachman Sabur.

There will also be a seminar titled The Challenge of Multiculturalism running from Sept. 14 to Sept. 16, at Hotel Indonesia.

The first Art Summit was held in 1995 from Sep. 12 to Oct. 12 with 15 groups from nine countries, and attracted 36,550 visitors. The second summit was held from Sept. 19 to Oct.19, 1998, featured 15 groups from eight countries and was attended by 35,350 visitors.

Tickets for this year's summit are available for between Rp 10,000 and Rp 50,000. For more information, call the TIM ticket office at 334740 ext. 18, or the Art Summit secretary at 5723170 or 5725572.