TIM to become 'true center for the arts'

TIM to become 'true center for the arts'

Urip Hudiono, Jakarta

After a long debate, the Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ) has reached
an agreement with the city administration to review an ongoing
master plan to develop Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) arts center
complex, Cikini, Central Jakarta.

The administration has agreed that the council and other
related stakeholders will be involved in the revision and future
supervision of the master plan, to ensure that the arts center
does not become another cash cow to the city or businesspeople.

"We would like TIM to function genuinely as a breeding ground
for arts and cultural activities, without being contaminated by
unrelated, business-oriented interests," DKJ head Ratna Sarumpaet
said on Thursday.

The TIM complex was established in 1968 by then governor Ali
Sadikin to become a home to the city's arts community and
cultural activities. The complex, which was named after the
country's famous composer, also houses the Jakarta Institute of
Arts (IKJ) and the Jakarta Planetarium.

In 1995, the administration of governor Surjadi Soedirja
conceived a master plan to renovate and develop TIM into a world-
class arts center.

The Rp 500 billion (US$55.5 million) project was planned to be
completed within 10 years, which included the construction of an
Rp 89.4 billion, eight-story "Wisma Seni" hotel and office
building, and a Rp 318.3 billion, 1,200-seat playhouse.

Many in the city's arts community, however, regretted why they
were never consulted on the master plan, and why it had a
tendency to commercialize the arts center.

But with the recent agreement, Ratna said that all of that
would hopefully be corrected.

Ratna explained that the administration had accepted the
council's revision to cancel the previous plan to operate the
"Wisma Seni" as a three-star hotel.

"The administration has agreed to drop such a scheme," she
said. "The Wisma Seni can therefore be used as low-cost
accommodation for any arts group that wants to stage a show at
TIM."

The council has also managed to persuade the management of a
cinema chain currently operating in TIM to sign a new contract in
which it will gradually transform the cinema into one that
screens only artistic movies for film festivals.

Ratna explained that the management would start converting its
cinema in August, by operating one of its screening rooms to show
artistic movies, as well as commercial ones. The management would
also provide a special room where movie buffs could hold
discussions on movies.

"We are not against Hollywood films, but would appreciate it
if a cinema operating in an arts center prioritizes the screening
of artistic films," she said. "I'm also sure Jakartans will be
enthusiastic about such a cinema."

Ever since 1999, the city has hosted an annual film festival,
the Jakarta International Film Festival (JIFFest), which shows a
variety of foreign and domestic critically acclaimed movies, and
has always attracted many viewers.