VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Bali Arts Festival XLIII 2021 opening ceremony - 

In an effort to ignite the creativity of creative economy actors in the midst of a pandemic, the Bali Provincial Government is bringing back the 43rd Bali Arts Festival in 2021. This event will be held in a hybrid manner, at Taman Budaya Art Center, Denpasar, Bali, from 12 June to 10 July 2021. .

The Bali Arts Festival is an annual art festival to provide a space for actualization and a vehicle for classical and traditional Balinese arts. In addition, the 2011 PKB XLIII is included in one of the 2021 Nusantara Kharisma Event (KEN) programs launched by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Baparekraf in April 2021.

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, when giving a speech, at the opening of the PKB XLIII 2021, in Bali, Saturday (12/6/2021), said the Bali Arts Festival was an art and cultural event that historical value. Because it has been 43 years of being part of nostalgia and a memory not only for Balinese people, but also nationally and even internationally.

"The Bali Arts Festival is philosophically also a medium and a means to raise our spirits, motivate people to explore, discover, and display arts and culture as well as improve welfare for the community, open up business opportunities, and create jobs," said the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy.

The opening of the Bali Arts Festival began with the appearance of the Manggala Yudha Baris Dance, a classically nuanced heroic dance, consisting of 6 dancers. This dance depicts the preparation of a group of war troops from the kingdom of Badung (Bandana) before advancing to the battlefield (Puputan Badung).

This event was interpreted by showing the video of Peed Aya (parade) “Pratiti Wana Kerthi” and Rekasadana (Performance) Ballet “Wreksa Kastuba” which told the story of Japa Tuan.

"I hope this event will become a field for art appreciation, build an ecosystem of progress within the framework of art and culture in Bali, as well as inspire and revive creativity in the tourism and creative economy as an effort to accelerate economic recovery in Indonesia," said Sandiaga.

Bali as the epicenter of Indonesian tourism, not only attracts domestic and foreign tourists with its natural beauty, but also the unique arts and culture of the Balinese people. Thus, this PKB plays an important role in being the trigger for the restoration of Bali tourism.

On that occasion, President Joko Widodo, who was present online, said that the holding of the 43rd Bali Arts Festival was proof that under the pressure of a very heavy pandemic, the creativity and productivity of Balinese art works continued to grow.

"I appreciate the efforts of the local government, artists, art workers, and all Balinese people, who continue to express works of art and develop aesthetic traditions from the sublime Balinese culture, while still implementing strict health protocols," he said.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Bali Province, I Wayan Koster, revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic did not ignite our enthusiasm and enthusiasm in holding this year's Bali Arts Festival. Instead, it makes the art community in Bali able to adapt creatively and innovatively, including building new habits in managing art events in a hybrid way, by implementing strict COVID-19 protocols.

“This is the authentic identity of the Balinese people, that under any conditions they are still able to be creative with increasing and prouder quality of art. The wealth of Balinese cultural heritage, with customs, arts, and local wisdom that is sacred and noble, should not be damaged and become extinct. Let's move together, accompanied by commitment, dedication and a strong belief in taking on the responsibility of preserving this noble ideological cultural heritage for the sake of Bali," said I Wayan Koster.

The theme raised at the PKB this time was entitled "Purna Soul: Prananing Wana Kerthi (Full Soul, Breath of the Tree of Life)". It has the meaning of glorifying trees or forests as a symphony of the harmony of the universe towards the welfare of life with an all-perfect soul.

For a whole month, PKB presents a number of agendas and activities such as reksadana (performance, utsawa (parade), wimbakara (competition), kandarupa (exhibition, kriyaloka (workshop), widyatula (rehearsal), and adi Sewaka nugraha (artist award).

Each representative from 9 regencies/cities throughout Bali will show their expertise in bringing various classical art performances such as gambuh, xylophone, wayang wong, gamelan, masks, shadow puppets, and so on. There are also virtual art performances from Papua, traditional Paser dances from East Kalimantan, to Indian classical dances.

This PKB was also accompanied by the Bali Bangkit IKM (Small and Medium Industry) Exhibition which was coordinated by the Dekranasda of Bali Province. The IKM exhibition showcases the achievements of the best arts and crafts, as the embodiment of a cultural party that can improve Balinese manners.

All PKB activities this time were held in a closed room (indoor). There are several venues in the Denpasar Art Center area that are used as the location for the indoor PKB XLIII performances, namely Ksirarnawa, Natya Mandala Building ISI Denpasar, and Wantilan Art Center//Release - VOI