Culture

Introduction

Yogyakarta may claim to be Java’s, and indeed Indonesia’s, cultural hub, but Jakarta has the best spread of venues and mix of domestic and international performers. Venues include Erasmus Huis, Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said Kav S-3 (tel: (021) 524 1069; website: www.mfa.nl/erasmushuis), a Dutch cultural centre that lays on a number of regular events with an emphasis on live music, while the Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jalan Cikini Raya 73 (tel: (021) 319 3725; website: www.tamanismailmarzuki.com) is perhaps the most eclectic venue in town with everything from chiming gamelan recitals through to colourful Balinese dancing. The Puppet Museum, Taman Fathillah (tel: (021) 692 9560; website: www.museumwayang.com) specialises in traditional wayang golek and wayang kulit puppet performances. The Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, Jalan Gedung Kesenian 1 (tel: (021) 380 8282; website: www.gedungkesenianjakarta.com) specialises in both domestic dance talents and performers from overseas, Europe in particular. The city’s tourist offices and the better four and five star hotels are the best places for gleaning information on current cultural performances in the Indonesian capital.