As
many as 600 artists from countries representing five continents were staged at
a gala dinner, which took place at Garuda Wisnu Kencana, Bali, Thursday. Themed
“Swarming Intelligence Carnival”, the performance was held to welcome the
opening of World Culture Forum (WCF), taking place from November 24 to 27,
2013.
Opened
with Joy Tobing singing the song “Bersama Kita Bangkit (Together We Revive)”
written by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, these hundreds of
artists were swarmed in front of the audience with different stunning cultural
performances. Yet, all the performances were staged in a single show to enable
a new form of art to emerge. The new
form is also known as the dynamics of swarming intelligence, wherein many
differences are unified into a large group.
Attending
the gala dinner are Mr. Yudhoyono and wife, Ani Yudhoyono; Minister of
Education and Culture Muhammad Nuh; Vice Minister of Education and Culture
Windhu Nuryanti; as well as Heads of State, Nobel Laureates, Ministers of
Culture, top experts, senior policy-makers, NGOs, cultural practitioners and
other stakeholders – all of whom are in Bali for attending the WCF.
Speaking
at the gala dinner, Nuh recalled the year 2005 when Mr. Yudhoyono first
initiated his idea about the importance of culture in sustainable development.
“This means that we should regard culture as a crucial element. We will not
have the future without the presence of culture,” Nuh said.
Minister
of Education and Culture also warned the danger of cultural conflict and
domination. “We need cultural convergence, and we will not reach to the point
of convergence without establishing a dialog. This is the bedrock that paved
the way for the ideas of organizing the WCF.”
Themed
“The Power of Culture in Sustainable Development, WCF is not only the first
international culture event that has drawn the attentions of many nations
throughout the world, but no less important, the forum emphasizes cultural
convergence as an important means of sustainable development.
