Asialink resident leaves inspiring Indonesia

Australian arts producer Kath Papas this month completed 5 weeks in Indonesia learning about and supporting contemporary Indonesian performance.

Kath Papas is from Melbourne and is a creative producer and consultant specialising in dance and working with independent artists. She is passionate about creating opportunities for artists, fostering diversity and contributing to the development of the performing arts.

Ms Papas was able to work in Indonesia as part of Asialink’s Arts Management Residency Program, which enables arts managers from all art forms to work for extended periods with a variety of organisations across Asia.

Ms Papas worked with renowned choreographer and performer Agung Gunawan and the Arts Island Festival in Yogyakarta, allowing her to build a strong relationship with the festival and to deepen her understanding of Indonesian culture.

“The time I spent working with the team and artists from the Arts Island Festival was a culturally rich experience. I met with local contemporary artists and learned a lot about traditional Indonesian cultural practices, while helping to develop new strategic connections for the festival,” Ms Papas said.

“I am inspired by Agung’s vision to create a festival that reaches beyond the usual ‘hot spots’ of Jakarta and Yogyakarta by holding this festival in Bali, Kediri and Batu-Malang.

“This precious time in Indonesia has enabled me to establish relationships with artists and organisations that I will be able to use more broadly in my professional work, especially given my strong focus on international work,” she said.

While in Jakarta, Ms Papas was invited by Kelola to present a workshop on producing and self-producing skills for a group of dance artists, arts managers and emerging producers.

Ms Papas is now in the Malaysian city of Malacca where she is working with the organisers of the Melaka Arts and Performance Festival, a `sister’ festival to the Arts Island Festival.

Ms Papas’ Asialink residency was supported by the Australia Council for the Arts and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Australia Malaysia Institute.

Media Enquiries:
Vicki Miller, First Secretary (Cultural) tel. (021) 2550 5260 mob. 0811 959 0304