Holding the Denpasar Festival amid a Pandemic

KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

Several handicraft products were exhibited at the Dharma Negara Alaya Building, Denpasar City, Bali in the context of the 2020 Denpasar Festival.

Since its opening on October 2, 2020 until the last week of November, total transactions at the 13th Denpasar Festival (Denfest 2020) had reached Rp 2 billion. A majority of these transactions were made virtually.

Denpasar Creative Agency chief executive I Putu Yuliarta said the high number of transactions during Denfest 2020 encouraged Denpasar residents to engage in creative activities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Denpasar residents are still outgoing and productive,” said Yuliarta at the Dharma Negara Alaya Building, Denpasar, on Monday (23/11/2020). Denfest 2020 was held using a combination of live and virtual exhibitions.

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Optimism was also echoed by Denpasar Embroidery, Endek and Songket Association (Asbest) head Ni Wayan Ria Mariani, who also owns the Cempaka Sanur boutiques. She remained creative and enthusiastic during the pandemic. “We just can’t wait until COVID-19 ends,” she added.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Ria’s business, with direct sales at boutiques plummeting and opportunities to showcase her products in person decreasing.

However, Ria was able to earn around Rp 15 million during Denfest 2020. “The virtual exhibition at Denfest opened up many opportunities, despite it being quite limiting because it was my first time doing so,” she said.

Creative spirit

Denfest originated from a string of festivals held along Jalan Gajah Mada, originally the center of Denpasar in 2008. The event, initially named the Gajah Mada Town Festival, sought to showcase the various cultural arts potentials of Denpasar. In the Jalan Gajah Mada area, there are two iconic markets for Denpasar, namely Badung Market and Kumbasari Market.

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The Gajah Mada Town Festival, usually held over three days at the end of the year, also became a New Year attraction for Denpasar residents. After being made into an annual event, the Gajah Mada Town Festival, which was then transformed into Denfest, would still be held for three days prior to the New Year.

KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

Bali Governor Wayan Koster (center) during the opening ceremony of the Bali Jani II 2020 Art Festival at the Ksirarnawa Building, Bali Provincial Cultural Park, Denpasar City, on Saturday (31/10/2020).

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has required everyone to adapt. In the opening of Denfest 2020 at the Dharma Negara Alaya Building, on Friday (2/10) night, Denpasar Mayor Ide Bagus Rai Dharmawijaya stated that the Denfest 2020 had been transformed to adapt to the pandemic.

Yuliarta said Denfest 2020 had changed its concept from a street festival to that of a hybrid festival, in which events were held both online and offline. Denfest 2020’s run also changed, from three days to three months, October to December 2020.

A total of 1,100 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) were involved in Denfest 2020, ranging from culinary, handicrafts, fashion to services. This year’s Denfest was also filled with various activities from fashion shows, competitions, exhibitions, film screenings, poetry visualization and virtual runs.

An artist from Denpasar, I Made Wardana (49) said that the Denpasar administration opened up a space for its citizens to showcase their creativity while also preserving local culture.

The event provided ample space for entrepreneurs and creative communities in Denpasar to participate as well as explore various opportunities during the pandemic. An artist from Denpasar, I Made Wardana (49) said that the Denpasar administration opened up a space for its citizens to showcase their creativity while also preserving local culture.

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“As an artist, I have creativity and need space to express it. The administration has programs and budgets and facilities that allow us to express ourselves,” Wardana said. Wardana is popular on YouTube, featuring Man Kenyung, an entrepreneur who had to work amid the pandemic, as well as Gamut, a passionate artist.

Ria Mariana also revealed that MSMEs were also expected to remain strong and enthusiastic in addition to being creative and productive. Utilizing digital technology, including in the transactional process, was a way that MSMEs adapted to the pandemic.

Komang also hoped the administration would fully support the development of community businesses, from micro to small or medium enterprises.

A young entrepreneur who also owned the Kedux Garage, Komang Gede Sentana Putra, said that Denfest was the city administration’s way of recognizing the creative and entrepreneurial sides of the city’s residents. Komang also hoped the administration would fully support the development of community businesses, from micro to small or medium enterprises.

Commitments

Rai Mantra also emphasized the seriousness of the city administration’s commitments to developing the creative and entrepreneurial economy in Denpasar. This, among others, was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Denpasar Tourism Agency and the Udayana University Faculty of Economics and Business, last November.

The administration is committed to creating a sustainable business environment that will encourage the growth of new businesses, including creative economy players in Denpasar.

KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

Several handicraft products were exhibited at the Dharma Negara Alaya Building, Denpasar City, Bali in the context of the 2020 Denpasar Festival.

Recognizing the creative potential of Denpasar residents was also shown by the construction of the Alaya Negara Dharma Building. The building is equipped with facilities that support and accommodate the creativity and innovations of Denpasar residents, including meeting rooms, discussion rooms, performance areas and mini cinemas.

The Dharma Negara Alaya Building is intended as an interaction space and business incubator in Denpasar. Has this goal been achieved? Various festivals such as Denfest are considered one of the tools to measure this achievement.