Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, a 'victim' of autonomy

Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

The Regional Autonomy Law, while welcomed by many, also faces growing criticism by many organizations who have been negatively affected by the law. One of those affected is Taman Budaya Yogyakarta.

The law went into effect in January this year. However, many regional administrations have suffered serious financial burdens and have been forced to cut budget items, such as art and educational projects, to cope with economic conditions.

The Taman Budaya Yogyakarta (TBY) art and cultural center project has been cited as a prime example of groups that have suffered negatively due to budget shortcomings attributed to the new law.

TBY was established in August 1978, together with other art and cultural centers in seven other cities in the country.

It occupies a 9,000-square-meter plot of land belonging to Gadjah Mada University in Bulak Sumur.

The Directorate General of Culture at the Ministry of National Education which manages TBY decided to expand the art and cultural center and started the expansion project in January 1999.

The project, covering a two-hectare plot on Jl. Sriwedani in downtown Yogyakarta, had to be halted following the implementation of the Regional Law in January this year.

"Since then the project has been under the auspices of the (Yogyakarta) provincial administration. The province, however, now does not have enough money to fund the project (after central government support was withdrawn)," TBY director Suprapto said.

The project is estimated to cost at least Rp 40 billion and is too expensive for a provincial administration. Many analysts argue that a project such as this should be viewed as a national project which benefits people nationwide.

The expansion project has become significant as Gadjah Mada University has hinted that the 9,000 square meters of land being used by TBY in Bulak Sumur will be allocated for student activities.

Dian Anggraeni, head of TBY's administrative office, said that TBY had sent a letter to the (Yogyakarta) provincial administration proposing the continuation of the project.

"We expect that the letter will be forwarded to the central government. We don't think the provincial administration has the money to continue the project.

"We initially hoped to have the construction finished in four to five years. Now we just hope that the project can resume next year," she said.

Yogyakarta, home to 400 reputable painters and 150 other artists, including sculptors and craftsmen, needs a representative hall to display their works, said Suprapto.

Suprapto said that only an exhibition room and a 200-seat seminar hall had been constructed on the lower story. "But they have yet to be furnished and lack air conditioners.

"TBY has held a joint exhibition involving 40 artists to raise money for the completion of the rooms."