A

round 15,000 artists are expected to take part in the 38th Bali Arts Festival, a month-long cultural festival set to be held from June 11 until July 9.

More than 300 traditional and contemporary art performances are scheduled to enliven Bali’s biggest and most magnificent cultural fiesta.

Ida Ayu Masyeni, arts and movie section head at the Bali Cultural Agency, said on Monday a cultural street parade would mark the opening of the festival on the afternoon of June 11. Hundreds of artists from across Bali will participate in the street parade, displaying their best performances.

“Representatives of all eight regencies across Bali will perform,” Ayu told The Jakarta Post.

The street parade will take place in the Renon area of Denpasar, and all participants will encircle the Bajrasandhi Monument, a museum built in the form of a giant genta — a sacred bell used by Hindu High Priests.

Beside participants from across Bali, the street parade will also be enlivened by cultural performances from France.

“We are expecting more participants from overseas,” street parade coordinator Anak Agung Gede Raka said.

Raka congratulated France for its participation in the event. “This will deepen our relations with France,” he said.

After the parade, the event will continue with an opening ceremony on the Ardha Candra open stage at the Bali Arts Center in Denpasar. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is expected to officially open the event.

The month-long fiesta will be focused around the Bali Arts Center. Besides art performances, the event will also feature arts and handicraft exhibitions, competitions, seminars, movie screenings and culinary events where people can enjoy authentic Balinese food.

Located on Jl. Nusa Indah in downtown Denpasar, the Bali Arts Center is a cultural complex showcasing traditional Balinese architecture. The Bali Arts Center contains many stages, an exhibition hall and many other facilities for various cultural activities. It was opened in 1973 and was designed to preserve Balinese culture. The Bali Arts Festival was first held there in 1979.

Masyeni added that preparations for the festival were 70 percent complete. As of now, France is the only country that has confirmed that it will participate in the event. The organizers, however, are still open to other countries participating in the event.

“France has confirmed its participation in the Bali Arts Festival. French citizens will participate in the street parade and the opening ceremony,” she said.

The organizers acknowledged that foreign participants may be fewer this year as the festival will be held during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadhan. So far, only the province of Central Java has confirmed its attendance at the festival. Last year, at least 14 regencies and provinces participated in the event.

Amandine Grisard, the director of Alliance Francaise Bali, said that French art would be displayed during the parade. Her organization will collaborate with Printemps Francais 2016, a French-Indonesian Cultural Festival being held in 10 cities across Indonesia, including Denpasar.