Subak with Art Festival

Abstract

The Subak with Art Festival that I developed and managed celebrated and showcased Subak through the creative arts, an art exhibition, performance and installation. It brought together artists, children and their families, young leaders in training and other members of the community to provide unique ways of understanding and responding to a specific and local issue that is also of international importance. Artists were asked to investigate the Subak by undertaking cultural research. Indonesian and Australian artists worked collaboratively to show the Subak in a new context, and enhanced by different cultural perspectives. A creative dialogue was fostered through internet contact before the festival and pre-festival meetings. The festival aimed to integrate contemporary arts with long-established Balinese festival structures. It drew upon traditional arts practices, ceremonies and symbols that are embedded in the everyday organization of the Subak and the rich artistic heritage of Bali. Through the festival the Subak Museum's capacity to connect with local communities, creating pathways for an open dialogue that link their existing collections with contemporary life was enhanced. It provided an example of museums as a space for contemporary arts. It provided support for the development of arts projects in a new environment, building strong high quality arts education programs within a museum context. Internationally, a Subak Art Festival raised awareness of the Subak as a unique cultural heritage that was worthy of inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage list. My specific visual art pieces at the festival exhibition were a piece created with 210 coconut bowls made by young children and another piece made with Sulawaisi palm tipat installed in the rice barn at the festival.