The Rough Guide to Jakarta (3): Festivals and Arts

TIM, the Jakarta Arts Center, is a complex of cinemas, art galleries, and theaters. Get the TIM program from the box office, tourist office or at select travels agents and hotels. TIM is also home to the recently refurbished Planetarium.

Pasar Seni in Ancol features live gamelan music, dangdut (Indonesian pop music with a strong Indian influence) and occasion cultural shows. The annual arts festival at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (the Jakarta arts building) is a superb opportunity to see world-class dance, music and theatre performed by local and foreign artists.

For the film buff, award-winning pictures from various countries are shown at the annual Jakarta International Film Festival (JiFFest). This is a unique chance to enjoy quality films that would otherwise not make it to the big screen in Jakarta.

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