Traditional Indonesian arts recognized

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Oral Tradition Association, in cooperation with the Culture and Tourism Ministry, will present the first ever awards for mastery of Indonesian traditional arts in January 2008.

The association announced the winners at a year-end report press conference on Friday. The awards, whose aim is to prevent the extinction of Indonesian traditional arts, go to 27 artists from all over the archipelago this year.

The association's chairwoman, Dr. Pudentia, said that in establishing the awards, the association had two main concerns. The first was what she called "the library on fire" theory which assumes that once a master artist dies, the cultural "encyclopedia" he represents is lost, too.

"This will happen if the country doesn't start intensively appreciating, documenting and disseminating information on the traditional arts mastered by a dwindling number of people," Pudentia said.

The second consideration is that the award should help preserve the traditional cultural environment that stimulates the artists.

"Because if that environment is drastically changed, it will be very difficult for them to carry on," she said.

The awards will be given to those considered to have mastered a particular art form as well as effectively worked to transfer expertise to the younger generation. Besides a trophy, the winners will receive a monthly honorarium of Rp 1 million (US$106.3).

The 27 award recipients were selected from 45 candidates by a panel of judges. The main criteria for "mastery" is 20 years of experience in the field and being at least 50 years of age.

The panel of judges comprised of Dr. Mukhlis Paeni, Muji Sutrisno, N. Riantiarno, Dr. Achadiati, Prof. Sardono W. Kusumo, Prof. Sapardi Djoko Damono, Prof. Ida Sundari Husein, Titi Said and Dr. Pudentia.

One of the judges who is also the Director General for Art, Culture and Film Affairs of the Culture and Tourism Ministry, Dr. Mukhlis Paeni, said the government also planned to file information on traditional arts, including master artists, with the Directorate General of Intellectual Property Rights at the Justice and Human Rights Ministry.

"In order to do that, besides visiting the master artists in each province, the government is also recording their performances and making an inventory of Indonesia's traditional arts." (uwi)