Rp 10m on offer at writing contest

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Art Council is holding a script-writing contest with Indonesian children as the event's subject matter, a senior executive said yesterday.

Ratna Riantiarno said the contest is open to members of the public, including scriptwriters, but there are some admission requirements.

Entrants must be Indonesian citizens, the script should be written in Bahasa Indonesia and the play must have a 90-minute duration, Ratna said.

But the number of episodes are not limited and entrants are free to choose the theme, she said.

The script must be original, written by the contestant and have never been performed, printed or broadcasted.

Five copies of the script should be sent to Dewan Kesenian Jakarta, Jl. Cikini Raya 73, Jakarta.

The closing date is Feb. 20 and the winners will be announced on March 11.

The winner and four runners-up will receive cash prizes: Rp 3.5 million (US$960) for first place, Rp 2.5 million for second, Rp 2 million for third and Rp 1 million each for fourth and fifth place-getters.

The annual writing contest is being held for the first time since 1980. Jakarta Art Council first staged the event in 1975.

"This is the sixth contest," Ratna was quoted by Antara as saying. (bsr)