The Taman Budaya Art Centre

The Art Centre (Wedhi Budaya) complex, commenced in 1969 and officially opened for use in 1973, is located in Nusa Indah street. On entering the Art Centre complex one is confronted by two entrances. On the left, in a style reminiscent of Japan, is the "Rinchui Sakura" and on the right, is astructure called "Candi Bentar". The Candi Bentar represents "exaltedness" and is often found in temples and palaces of royalty of bygone days. This structure is often found when entering village districts and also at points of entry into the province of Bali such as at the pmts of Gilimanuk, Benoa and Padangbai. The Candi Bentar of the Art Centre, in keeping with tradition, represents the desire to preserve, nurture and exalt the arts of Bali. Having entered the five hectare Cultural Park (Taman Budaya) a variety of buildings are visible built in the traditional Balinese style, the creation of the very talented architect Ida Bagus Tugur. The entire complex is divided into five building complexes with ponds, gardens, bridges and walkways connecting the various areas. The various building complexes are known as: "Mahudara Mandhara Giri Buwana", used as the main building, housing a permanent art exhibition: "OnceÇrawa", used for occasional work shops and exhibitions: "Amerta Saraswati", housing the library: "Ardha Candra ", used for open-air performances, and finally the indoor stage: Ksirarnawa. Besides these buildings there is the "Wantilan" (Wantilan = open air hall) which is outside the overall plan of the Art Centre complex. The Wantilan is used to hold performances where intimacy between performers and audience. (e.g. dance) is desired. This is made obvious when, on completion of the performance, the performer takes a seat amongst the "inactive" audience and proceeds to partake of the offered betel nut and cigarettes.

The Main Building (Mahudara Mandhara Giri Buwana): to gain access to the main double - storey building one passes over the "Gajah Mina" bridge. The Gajah Mina is a mythical creature, being a fish with the head of an elephant. Before entering the stairwell through the "Kori Agung" (Kori = door, gate; Agung = large, grand), which leadsto the exhibition building, one passes the heads of two mythical serpents (Naga); Naga Basuki and Naga Ananthaboga which seem to welcome every visitor to this complex. All these creatures and the names of the complexes derive from the Adi Parwa philosophy (Mahabharata epic) which is actually a part of a story about Mount "Mahudara Mandhara Giri Buvana".

East of the Main Building is the Balai Kambang (balai = building) situated on a pond. The view from the Balai Kambang looks out on the pond and the beautiful surrounding gardens contained within the Taman Udiyana Ratnalaya (taman = park, garden). Three statues are found at the eastern perimeter of the pond; the statue of Beghawan Gangga flanked by the images of Dewi Gangga Soma, protector of seas, riversand lakes,and that of Dew; Giri Puteri, protector of mountains and springs.

• The Library (Amerta Saraswati)

In the library, situated beyond the oval stage, are found the valuable lontars (Iontar palm = leaves of which are used traditionally as paper) and books which are made accessibie to the public to read on the premises. There is an ideal resting spot in the "Balai Slunding" near the Pura, (pura = temple) which stands nearby and existed long before the Art Centre was conceptualised.

• The Open Theatre (Ardha Candra)

This semi-circular theatre with a seating capacity of seven thousand derives its name from the shape (Ardha = half; Candra = round, moon). The theatre is used to stage anything from traditional classics in dance and modern variations of the classics to the works of contemporary choreographers. The stage, lit from a traditional Balinese styled tower, has two dressing rooms, the left one, Candi Paduraksa, is used as the performers entrance to the stage. The space beneath the tiered viewing area is used for an art shop, cafetaria and exhibition room and sited near the entrance are two smaller oval stages used to perform folk drama and "cak" dances. Indoor Stage : Ksirarnawa.

Just on the morning before the 8th Bali Art Festival was to be opened (June 14, 1986). Minister of Education and Culture Dr. Daud Yusuf dedicated officially the new Ksirarnawa - the Indoor Stage Building, on the west side of the Ardha Candra.lt has two floors: the upper is the stage with 800 capacity built in a combination of modern and Balinese styles. The first floor consists of rooms-in the west and east side for permanent or temporary exhibitions, and a lotus shaped pond is located at the centre. Four garuda (eagles) and eight white apes guard the four entrances to this stage. Ksirarnawa (Milky Ocean) is a name taken also from the process of gaining the Tirtha Amertha -the Holy Water in the Great Adi Parwa story. It is this complex that every year hosts the month long Bali Art Festival in the months of June and July.