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.