Renowned Balinese Artists to Perform at Darwin Festival

Internationally renowned Balinese artists I Dewa Putu Sudiantara, Desak Putu Eka Suciari and I Dewa Ketut Sukadana will travel to Australia to perform at the Darwin Festival from 14-31 August 2008.

The artists will join Darwin’s popular Tunas Mekar Cultural Collective as special guests at the Pesona Indonesia concert in the Darwin Botanic Gardens.

Australian Ambassador Bill Farmer said that the Darwin Festival would provide a welcome opportunity for the Balinese artists to showcase Indonesia’s artistic diversity and creativity.

“This is an exciting moment to celebrate the close cultural relationship between
Indonesia and Australia at the premier festival for the Top End of Australia and the Asia Pacific Region,” the Ambassador said.

With the rich cultural diversity of the Northern Territory as its backdrop, the annual Darwin Festival is expected to attract more than 70,000 spectators. The Balinese guest artists will also perform on the closing night of the festival with counterparts from the Asia-Pacific region in the high energy extravaganza bringing ancient cultures and traditions to life in Paradise: Remixed.

Apart from performing throughout the festival, the artists will visit local schools in Darwin to share Bali’s unique traditions, music and culture with Australian children.

The visit is funded by the Australian Government through the Australia-Indonesia Institute. More information about the Institute’s programs to support bilateral cooperation and collaboration in the arts and culture is available at www.dfat.gov.au/aii. More information on the Darwin Festival is available at www.darwinfestival.org.au.

Media Enquiries:
Fiona Hoggart, First Secretary (Cultural) tel. (021) 2550 5260 mob. 0811 936 302