Australian arts groups invited to support Indonesian fest

An Australian writer is rallying local artists and arts groups to support an upcoming performance festival in an Indonesian village badly damaged by last year's devastating earthquake.

Australian author Jan Cornall is inviting fellow Australian artsworkers and arts groups to attend and/or support Perfurbance #3, a unique performance art festival to be held 25 - 29 April in the earthquake affected Gemblangan Village, in the Bantul area near Jogjakarta, Indonesia.

"In Indonesia there is little funding available for the arts. Last year's one day Perfurbance festival, in down town Malioboro St, Jogjakarta, was run on a budget of AUD$600 which we raised from Australian performers and organisations including Realtimearts and individuals," says Cornall.

"The budget for this year is an ambitious AUD$12,000 however if we get only AUD$2500 the festival can go ahead."

"Members of The Performance Klub, who organise the Perfurbance festival, have been involved in volunteer relief work since the earthquake hit the Jogjakarta region last year. During this time they have developed a special relationship with the community of Gemblangan Village.

This small village of 70 families is like an island surrounded by rice paddies. It has a strong tradition of farming, traditional food and handicraft production. The villagers travel daily by bicycle to sell their wares at local markets a few kilometres away.

In last May's devastating earthquake almost all the houses were badly damaged, several people were killed and many more injured. While international aid agencies helped in the short term with temporary housing, tents and medical aid, government subsidies for rebuilding were fraught with bureaucratic delays and inequities. For the villagers of Gemblangan, rebuilding in all areas of their lives continues.

Perfurbance #3 is being held in Gemblangan in a gesture of support and solidarity. The theme this year is Spiritual Renewal."

Around 40 performance artists including international artists from Australia, Japan, Phillipines, Thailand, Singapore, France and Canada will stay in the village over five days.

They will be asked to create a performance based around the theme of the event, and their response to being in the village and the stories they hear there.

Morning workshops and seminars for artists and villagers will be held, along with afternoon and evening performances each day.

There is no charge to attend the festival, but donations are warmly welcomed. Cornall says funds will assist both Indonesian performance artists and efforts to rebuild Gemblangan Village.

To view video clips from last year's festival, CLICK HERE.