Batam, Riau Islands (Antara Bali) - The Indonesian government has decided to stop allocating special funds for ASEAN Jazz Festival which has been held in the industrialized island of Batam seven times.
"Next year the government will hand over the event to the private sector. The government will no longer finance it," ASEAN Jazz Festival Artistic Director Dwiki Dharmawan said here on Sunday.
Since the first ASEAN Jazz Festival was held in 2008, it has brought in tens of musicians from five continents. Almost all funds needed to organize the event originated from the state budget, the provincial budget and the municipal budget.
"In the future, the government will no longer finance the event but will only give support to it," Dwiki said.
He expressed the hope that the festival would be held every year although the government will stop financing it as of next year.
"ASEAN Jazz Festival must continue," he said.
As a consequence of the government's decision to stop financing the event, the organizing committee would charge entrance fees for its visitors, he said.
The festival had been held free of charge for the seventh year in a row, he said.
The 7th ASEAN Jazz Festival was held on Saturday, featuring musical groups including Krakatau ReUnion, Kamal Mussafa, Nina Tamam, Surabaya All Star Big Band. (WDY)
Govt Stops Financing ASEAN Jazz Festival
Pewarta : Reporting by Jannatun Naim 8 September 2014 10:10 WIB
