Do we spend more energy on differences rather than on what we share in common? Sometimes it appears so, especially when tension and violence erupts in our not-quite melting pots over things like ethnicity, religion, different convictions within religions.
This question arises during the latest, ongoing round of the Indonesian Art Summit, a monthlong event promising a refreshing break from the daily grind. We have dancers from Spain and musicians from Argentina; there was a modern wayang performance with a duck among the puppets, which sometimes rode on skateboards in a setting strange to the conventional stage.
Eavesdrop on a conversation or two between organizers prior to such an event and one gets a sense of mind-boggling details demanding highly refined management skills and no end of imagination -- apart from patience.
The Art Summit, held once every three years, is now in its fifth edition since debuting in 1995 and it is yet to secure a solid, sustainable source of funding. Artists from 11 countries are taking part in the event, but there are few local artists because of the issue of funding.
The same applies to similar events, particularly those involving contemporary arts, with promoters fighting for attention between followers of the traditional and popular scenes.
The headache of funding, logistics and the whole management of an event begins almost immediately after the closing night of the last event. With endless artistic talent but trouble on the management side of things, each performing arts event, such as jazz and film festivals, poses a daunting challenge and raises an old debate.
Artists and their promoters work with whatever they have, for the show must go on.
As organizer and playwright Putu Wijaya told this paper, the Art Summit is a ""cultural investment"" to help people refresh tired minds, and ""to celebrate the human"" within us.
It is thanks to the artists then that we are reminded of our need for great performances to fulfill our need for beauty and joy.
Evidently, the artists can use much more support. Like those who dedicate their time and energy to the development of sports, arts organizers are often left to fend for themselves.
""Oh, that's a private event,"" was the response of government officials in charge of selling the country to tourists when asked about the promotion of the summit.
That contradicts the statement of Cultural and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik, who said while opening the summit Thursday that the promotion of art and culture was the responsibility of the entire government.
Given all the slogans we hear about promoting the country to foreigners, one wonders why the government does not grab onto every event and promote it like it was its own.
We could learn from neighboring Singapore and Malaysia in their promotion of events and natural resources. Art events, and many other types of events, are aggressively promoted.
Apart from a lack of promotion and funding, there's a basic problem. How is one supposed to get to the art venues in time in this rain and traffic? Leave very early, of course, assuming one can zip home from work for a shower and change clothes for the theater -- all this likely to take two hours or more in many cases.
This is another form of support artists need. Here again, let's learn from our neighbors. For while old hands like Putu Wijaya say appreciation for contemporary arts here is low, many people who would like to enjoy the shows on offer just struggle to get to the venue on time.
