Bali Arts Festival: Denpasar Bali

The 2007 Bali Arts Festival is in full swing and today the scene at the Taman Budaya Cultural Center in Denpasar was lively. Taman Budaya is located on Jl. Nusa Indah, 15 minutes from the Kereneng bemo terminal, or just off of Jl. Hayam Wuruk if you are driving. Getting there from Kuta takes 20 minutes and once there you can find parking outside. The Bali Arts Festival is a chance for Balinese families to get out and enjoy their culture in a setting that is not ceremonial. One set of booths has a display of regional arts from each district in Bali, including sarongs, krisses and other items.

Banjars from all over Bali and performing acts from all over the world including Japan come to this festival. The extensive performance schedule needs checking out to make sure you aren’t waiting around. Performances of traditional Balinese dance take place in an open air arena. Today there was no admission or problem getting into the dance arena. Apart from the front gate there seemed to be no security personnel on duty. Drinks and snacks including sate babi were on sale all over as were the never ending array of plastic kids toys. Looking for a selection of sarongs that the beach vendors don’t have? You might find something here.

If a sharp Balinese kris or straight edged knife is your thing, there are some great vendors here too, offering scary looking choppers, penknives and large knives.Taman Budaya Cultural Center has a 2-storey exhibition hall featuring Balinese paintings, woodcarvings, Ramayana & Topeng masks and other more modern displays. The atmosphere at the Bali Arts Festival is relaxed, so its fun to check out the people and enjoy the event. You will find token westerners attending but this is not a tourist event.

Parking outside is 1,000rp for motorbikes and it was busy today.