T

he Surakarta administration is organizing the Solo Kampung Art and the Keraton Art Festival this week in an effort to exploit its tourist attractions.

The arts and cultural events are included in the grand plan of former Surakarta mayor Joko Widodo (currently Jakarta governor), who wished to transform Surakarta, more commonly known as Solo, into a meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) city.

Solo Kampung Art, which is running from June 13 to 16, is part of Solo's mission to revive the arts and culture that have their roots in the districts within the city. The event, which is entering its fourth year, will be located at the Vastenburg Fort, a cultural heritage site dating back to the Dutch colonial administration in the 18th century.

Solo Kampung Art is just one of dozens of annual events in Surakarta. The first arts and cultural festival, displaying performances typical of Surakarta, was organized at the Pura Mangkunegaran Palace in 2010 and was called Seni Kampung Solo.

Surakarta's Cultural and Tourism Office head, Widdi Srihanto, said the event aimed to explore and preserve the original village arts and culture of Surakarta, which consists of five districts and 51 subdistricts.

This year's event will welcome 24 art and cultural groups from eight subdistricts in the city, performing among other things bamboo music, ethnic music, percussion pieces, ketoprak shows, theater and traditional dances.

Activities will take place at the Old Well in the Vastenburg Fort. Solo Kampung Art will kick off with a ting (old lamp) procession, starting at Sriwedari Stadium and ending at the fort.

Solo Kampung Art organizing committee head Hanindawan said the ting parade was a distinctive event in the festival. 'The ting procession emphasizes that some of Surakarta's culture originated from the villages within the city,' said Hanindawan.

Meanwhile, Surakarta has also just hosted the 2013 Keraton Art Festival, which took place from June 12 to 13 at the Siti Hinggil Surakarta Sultanate Palace.

The Keraton Art Festival promotes and showcases the palace's cultural wealth and heritage, such as artifacts and dances created by Sampeyan Dalem Ingkang Sinuhun Kanjeng Susuhunan (SISKS) Pakubuwono.

Five dance performances, choreographed by SISKS Pakubuwono IV and SISKS Pakubuwono V, were presented at the festival, namely the Bedhaya Sukoharjo, Golek Sri Rejeki, Wereng Tohjoyo Bugis, Kirono Ratih and Bondan Kendhi.