News, analysis and comment - performing arts 

Australian arts groups invited to support Indonesian fest

ArtsHub | Monday, February 05, 2007

Artists in action at the Perfurbance festival in Indonesia. [Photo: Jan Cornall]   

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.

Related news

The Kransky Sisters: Heard it on the Wireless

The Kransky Sisters: Heard it on the Wireless

Kirsten Le Roux (Australia) 3 Sep 2010

CAIRNS FESTIVAL: Although touted as a musical comedy trio The Kransky Sisters aren’t trying to be ...

Nan Jombang

Nan Jombang

Kirsten Le Roux (Australia) 3 Sep 2010

JUTE THEATRE: Nan Jombang Dance Company first performed outside Indonesia at Brisbane Powerhouse ...

The Removalist

The Removalist

Gillian Clark (Australia) 3 Sep 2010

PERTH THEATRE COMPANY: Before restraining orders and litigation against the police was high on ...

M, The Scottish Play

M, The Scottish Play

Taryn Pollock (Australia) 3 Sep 2010

EAGLE’S NEST THEATRE: Unlike many productions of Macbeth, Collard’s M The Scottish Play is far ...

MTC Emerging Artists Appointments Announced

MTC Emerging Artists Appointments Announced

ArtsHub (Australia) 3 Sep 2010

MELBOURNE THEATRE COMPANY: The MTC is proud to announce this year’s Emerging Artists appointments.

Adelaide Cabaret Festival: New Artistic Director

Adelaide Cabaret Festival: New Artistic Director

ArtsHub (Australia) 2 Sep 2010

ADELAIDE CABARET FESTIVAL: Adelaide Festival Centre announces new Artistic Director for Adelaide ...

This kind of ruckus

This kind of ruckus

Gordana Andjelic-Davila (Australia) 31 Aug 2010

By integrating found texts from a myriad of public sources, such as media declarations, TV shows ...

Transgression is a positive thing

Transgression is a positive thing

Richard Watts (Australia) 31 Aug 2010

SYDNEY UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL: Sex, drugs, horror, South American politics and porno cabaret: ...

Belle du Berry

Belle du Berry

Xenia Hanusiak (Australia) 31 Aug 2010

MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE: Belle du Berry is a mistress of storytelling. She spins the patter of ...

Stitching up The City

Stitching up The City

Sarah Adams (Australia) 31 Aug 2010

RED STITCH: This month, guest director Adena Jacobs will bring Martin Crimp’s The City to the Red ...

Australian Ballet's Danilo Radojevic

Australian Ballet's Danilo Radojevic

Rita Dimasi (Australia) 31 Aug 2010

AUSTRALIAN BALLET COMPANY: Danilo Radojevic is the Associate Artistic Director of the Australian ...

From Queensland with love

From Queensland with love

Richard Watts (Australia) 31 Aug 2010

BRISBANE WRITERS’ FESTIVAL: From contemporary African writing to wry memoirs about growing up gay ...

Adelaide Film Festival

Adelaide Film Festival

ArtsHub (Australia) 31 Aug 2010

The BigPond Adelaide Film Festival is calling for applications from Australian artists and ...

Truthmachine

Truthmachine

Smiljana Glisovic (Australia) 31 Aug 2010

GROUNDED ASTRONAUT THEATRE: TRUTHMACHINE unfolds into intimate exploration of the notions of ...

The Mikado

The Mikado

Lynne Lancaster (Australia) 31 Aug 2010

ZENITH THEATRE: 'The Mikado', a charming, very traditional version of this well loved classic ...

No Mans Land

No Mans Land

Paul Galloway (Australia) 31 Aug 2010

MELBOURNE THEATRE COMPANY: Between masculine and feminine is a middle ground explored by the ...

Pirates of Penzance

Pirates of Penzance

Jennie Sharpe (Australia) 31 Aug 2010

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE: Opera Australia’s vivaciously silly 2006 production of ‘Pirates of Penzance’ ...

Fiona O’Loughlin: On a Wing and a Prayer

Fiona O’Loughlin: On a Wing and a Prayer

Kirsten Le Roux (Australia) 31 Aug 2010

CAIRNS FESTIVAL: Publicly outing herself as an alcoholic a year ago by passing out on stage ...

Crave

Crave

Amelia de Rauch (Australia) 31 Aug 2010

CHAPEL OFF CHAPEL: Crave, is not a light hearted performance for the audience to sit back and enjoy.

Digital Learning Hub

Digital Learning Hub

ArtsHub (Australia) 31 Aug 2010

A new era is about to be launched at the Arts Centre, with the opening of a Digital Learning Hub, ...