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The 40th Annual Bali Arts Festival

June 9, 2018 - July 7, 2018


The Bali Arts Festival is a cultural treat for lucky visitors who are in Bali until mid July. The festival traditionally starts on the second Saturday of June and runs through the month of July. It is the perfect moment to witness Bali’s wealth of performing arts. You’ll also catch a glimpse of various cultural highlights from other islands in Indonesia. It’s one of the main highlights in Bali’s calendar of events. The annual celebration showcases various artworks and cultural achievements. It invites the public to the Taman Werdhi Budaya Arts Centre in Denpasar. Most of the daily exhibitions and art performances are focused here. On regular days, a visit to the Denpasar Art Centre is a small tour to admire magnificent sculptures and Balinese architectural features. It’s also a venue of choice for photo shoots with exotic backdrops. But throughout the Bali Arts Festival in June and July, the complex becomes alive with colourful traditional bamboo and coconut leaf decorations and banners. Crowds gather in front of its open stages, auditoriums and outdoor pavilions. You can witness a variety of traditional and contemporary dances, shadow puppetry, music compositions and youth competitions that fill the festival agenda. Hundreds of artists from Denpasar, Bali’s eight provinces, neighbouring islands, and even art troupes from abroad, participate and showcase their talents here. Now in its 40th year, the Bali Arts Festival returns June 9 to July 7.

The Bali Arts Festival usually kicks off with an opening parade in front of the Bajra Sandhi monument in Denpasar. At the Ardha Chandra stage of the Bali Arts Centre, witness a series of stage performances by the Indonesia Arts Institute (ISI) of Denpasar. On the following days up to July 7, the various stages and different venues come to life with the wide and colourful variety of performances from different art groups from all over the island and Indonesia. The month-long festival offers you the best showcase of Balinese and Indonesian arts and culture in the entire year!

Enjoy traditional music and gamelan recitals at the Ayodya and Angsoka stages. Witness evening Balinese documentary film screenings at the Ksirarnawa auditorium. There are Balinese children’s Gong Kebyar gamelan jam sessions at the Ardha Candra amphitheatre. You can also enjoy vocal, musical and dance collaborations. Browse through handicrafts, paintings and sculptures at exhibition. Traditional culinary bazaars feature favourite Balinese dishes. The Bali Arts Festival customarily closes with a lively ceremony. This includes an evening traditional ballet known as ‘sendratari’. The show is held at the Ardha Candra open stage from 20:00.

Details

Start:
June 9, 2018
End:
July 7, 2018
Event Category:

Venue

Denpasar Arts Centre (Taman Werdhi Budaya)
Jalan Nusa Indah, Denpasar