REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DENPASAR -- Some 15 thousand Indonesian and foreign artists join the 38th Bali Art Festival being held in Bali from June 11 to July 9, 2016.
"The Bali Art Festival will feature 225 arts from Bali districts and cities, and is participated in by 15 thousand artists," Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika said during the opening of the festival, here, Saturday.
The festival is also being participated in by artists from other regions such as Jakarta, East Java, East Nusa Tenggara, Blitar, Balikpapan, Bandung, Gunung Kidul and Magelang.
Foreign participants come from the United States, India, Britain, Japan, France, Thailand, China and Timor Leste.
The festival was officially kicked off by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the Bajra Sandhi People's Struggle Monument, on Saturday evening.
"I am happy that I am here this evening. The 38th Bali Art Festival is an event much awaited by the people and tourists from different countries," he said while opening the festival.
The event not only serves as a medium of education but also boosts the economy of the Balinese people, the president added.
On the occasion, President Jokowi was accompanied by First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo, Education and Culture Minister Anies Baswedan and Tourism Minister Arief Yahya.
The festival attracts not only local people but also foreign tourists.
The opening of the festival was marked by a cultural parade featuring a variety of dances and arts from districts and municipalities in Bali province.
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