IDF Looks for New Ways to Live the Arts

The art world is often constrained by funds so that its path is staggered. YLTN and IDF solved it through fundraising.

ARSIP IDF

Dian Sartrowardoyo, Rianto, and Boby Ari Setiawan performing Crawling Roots in a Growing Body at the opening of the Fundraising Night auction by the Nusantara Dance Loka Foundation and the Indonesian Dance Festival at The Dharmawangsa Jakarta, Thursday (2/05/ 2024).

The path of dance is still a silent path. It's not easy to attract attention, let alone encourage people to move towards it. However, the Nusantara Dance Workshop Foundation (YLTN) and the Indonesian Dance Festival (IDF) found a new way to find a flow of funds to keep dance going. move.

That evening, Thursday (2/5/2024), Dian Sastrowardoyo wearing a bright colored kebaya went on stage followed by actor Reza Rahadian, and two dancers, Rianto and Boby Ari Setiawan, at The Dharmawangsa, Jakarta. They performed a narrative dance entitled Roots Spread in a Growing Body which was choreographed by Elly D Lutan.

The dance portrays different perspectives of tradition. On the one hand, tradition is seen as something that is already dead and no longer has meaning. On the other hand, there are groups that believe tradition is still alive and can serve as a foundation for contemporary dynamics.

ARSIP IDF

Dian Sartrowardoyo and Reza Rahadian performing Crawling Roots in a Growing Body at the opening of the Fundraising Night auction by the Nusantara Dance Loka Foundation and the Indonesian Dance Festival at The Dharmawangsa, Jakarta, Thursday (2/5/2024).

The tradition represented by Dian Sastrowardoyo that night stated, "If I am the one who creates everything that concerns you, that will be the lifeline of our lives. That is what will eventually compose the history of the moments of beauty that are embedded in you."

The expression carries optimism that tradition is not something stagnant, not a lifeless object. It becomes an important foundation for the building of civilized values. Therefore, what Reza said to represent the development of the times is true. "I, who now stand before you, am a great ocean reflecting your body from the heights of the sky. The expanse of peaceful blue signifies a deep love for you."

KOMPAS/MOHAMMAD HILMI FAIQ

Dian Sartrowardoyo, Rianto, and Boby Ari Setiawan performing Crawling Roots in a Growing Body at the opening of the Fundraising Night auction by the Nusantara Dance Loka Foundation and the Indonesian Dance Festival at The Dharmawangsa, Jakarta, Thursday (2/5 /2024).

Two narrative quotes written by Putu Fajar Arcana and read by Dian Sastrowardoyo and Reza Rahadian became a foundation for YLTN and IDF, that dance must continue to live and give life. It is not a parasite that always sucks energy. On the contrary, dance is a reciprocal pole for life, so that both, life and dance, complement each other. Therefore, IDF, which has been established for 32 years, has no intention of stopping, even though it is not an easy step, especially in the context of fundraising.

There is a strong philanthropic spirit to help advance the performing arts in Indonesia.

To meet the needs of this year's dance festival, IDF requires a budget of 4.98 billion IDR, but only 3.64 billion IDR has been met. This means that at least another 1.33 billion IDR is needed. YLTN and IDF management then held negotiations to devise a strategy apart from seeking assistance from the government or donor agencies.

The idea emerged for the Fundraising Night at The Dharmawangsa, Jakarta,. This event opened with performances by Dian Sastrowardoyo, Reza Rahadian, Rianto, and Boby Ari Setiawan. The invitees were then led to the gala dinner room to enjoy Lamongan chicken soup and mixed rice. While enjoying the food, the committee held an auction.

This Fundraising Night auctions off works of art by artists from various disciplines. They include senior sculptor Dolorosa Sinaga, designers Merdi Sihombing and Didiet Maulana, jewelry brand Tulola, artist Titiek Zulkifli, and journalist and artist Putu Fajar Arcana. Their works were presented in the Nusantara foyer area where the event took place.

KOMPAS/MOHAMMAD HILMI FAIQ

Fashion designer Didiet Maulana explained his work, Svarna by Ikat Indonesia, during the charity auction held by the Loka Tari Nusantara Foundation and the Indonesian Dance Festival at The Dharmawangsa, Jakarta on Thursday (2/5/2024).

Before the auction started, the committee provided information that the performers that night, Dian Satrowardoyo and Reza Rahadian, had also donated fabric from their collection to be auctioned. This follow-up movement is a form of their support for the world of dance. Their works were displayed in the Nusantara foyerarea where the event took place.

The Indonesian art auction specialist bureau, Sidharta Auctioneer, leads the auction directly or remotely (silent auction). The auction was conducted in a heated and sometimes competitive atmosphere. Some of the items that were auctioned gave rise to bidding wars, such as when the fabric from Reza's collection and the kebaya by Didiet were auctioned. That night the funds collected reached IDR 430 million from the auction of art items and the sale of chairs at this event.

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IDF Director Ratri Anindyajati explained that this event has been prepared since two years ago. Seeing the enthusiasm of the visitors, she believes that art enthusiasts in Indonesia have a concern to make an impact on the ecosystem of art and culture.

KOMPAS/MOHAMMAD HILMI FAIQ

Fashion designer Merdi Sihombing explained the fabric he was auctioning, ulos mangiring, during the Fundraising Night Auction by the Loka Tari Nusantara Foundation and the Indonesian Dance Festival at The Dharmawangsa in Jakarta on Thursday (2/5/2024).

"There is a strong philanthropic spirit to help advance the performing arts in Indonesia. The role of the IDF team is to continue working to connect individual philanthropists and institutions with dance community practitioners, in order to uphold the values that the IDF has fought for," he said.

Meanwhile, TLTN Chairman Nungki Kusumastuti, who was delighted to see the fundraising process that night, said, "We have no experience. This is the first time we have tried to raise funds through an auction."

ARSIP IDF

Rianto and Boby Ari Setiawan performing Crawling Roots in a Growing Body at the opening of the Fundraising Night auction by the Nusantara Dance Loka Foundation and the Indonesian Dance Festival at The Dharmawangsa Jakarta, Thursday (2/05/2024).

He is optimistic that this new method will provide a brighter prospect. For that reason, he and YLTN and IDF will develop it better in the upcoming year. That evening, some visitors indeed hoped that the number of art items to be auctioned could be increased, making it more exciting and able to collect more funds.

That is a sign that YLTN and IDF's new ways of raising funds have found a place in the public's hearts. This new approach can be imitated by other fields, such as literature and theater, which have often lacked sources of funding.