Artists Welcome `Arts Town' Plan, But Questions Arise

Artists Welcome `Arts Town' Plan, But Questions Arise - The city administration announced it wanted Old Town to function similarly to Hollywood or New York's Soho, and call it "Kota Seni" or Arts Town.

Jakarta-based artists said they liked the basic idea although they were unsure about its realization.

Joko Anwar, director of Pintu Terlarang (The Forbidden Door, 2009) and Janji Joni (Joni's Promise, 2008), said the plan should be carried out without damaging heritage sites. "It's a good thing to hear. However, the administration must pay great attention to preserving the *heritage* sites."

Joko, who shot Pintu Terlarang and Janji Joni in the Old Town area, added that all spots in the town were in poor condition.

Singer Tika said that the city's plan could be a breath of fresh air for artists, especially those who wanted to perform in public spaces, which were very limited in the capital.

"Jakarta lacks decent infrastructure for art shows. We only have Gedung Kesenian Jakarta *Jakarta's Art Center*, and the condition is unfavorable," she said.

"So, if the administration is planning something for the Old Town area, that would be great."

Nevertheless, Tika questioned the city's commitment to heritage site preservation.

"Could they *administrators* assure us that hotels and malls will never exist near the Old Town site?"

Visual artist Ade Darmawan from Ruang Rupa, a Jakarta-based art community, also had ques-tions about the Old Town's infrastructure.

"I don't really understand which part of the Old Town that would be transformed. If they want to change the Old Town into a special place for artistic events, it would be quite tricky in terms of infrastructure - building public space that accommodates arts performances as well as access to public transportation."

Ade suggested the administration organize sustainable arts performances in order to maintain the livelihood of the planned arts town.

Jakarta's History Museum exhibition and education officer Sahuri said he was optimistic that the plan would receive a good response. He said since the administration had started the revitalization program in 2007, the number of visitors had increased significantly.

"We used to have 70,000 visitors per year, but now we have at least 20,000 visitors per month."

Next year his museum has planned at least three performing art events as well as exhibitions.

"We have received event proposals from Mercu Buana and Trisakti universities."

Recently, Jakarta's Tourism and Culture Agency head Arie Budhiman said the city was preparing to transform the Old Town into a place dedicated to art activities, especially those related to filmmaking.

"We could use Old Town as Indonesia's Hollywood," he told beritajakarta.com.

To support the plan, the city would also relocate Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ) from Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) to Old Town.

With the relocation of IKJ, Arie said he hoped the Old Town could become as lively as Soho in New York.

"We'd like to change the boring Old Town, into a hip and creative place, which would be interesting for both domestic and international tourists."

The Old Town has 284 heritage buildings - 23 buildings belong to state-own companies, while the remaining 255 belong to the private sector and individuals.

The Old Town area covers parts of West and North Jakarta, including Sunda Kelapa port and the Old Fish Market.

The most popular part is the revamped Fatahillah Square near the Kota busway shelter.