Indonesian artists through the Taman Ismail Marzuki Care Artist Forum (FSPTIM) voiced their opposition to the Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) revitalisation project as they feel that they are not involved in the process.

Dispute regarding the revitalisation project emerged before the project was started. The artists deemed that Jakarta Propertindo (Jakpro) as the contractor had instead commercialised TIM by planning to build hotels and other luxury installations on the site.

For this reason, the construction was temporarily suspended and resumed after Jakpro promised not to commercialise TIM. 

In addition, the artists said that TIM's revitalisation did not follow and even ignored their wishes and input. Last year, several focus group discussions (FGD) as well as strategic meetings were held regarding the post-revitalisation PKJ-TIM management. 

However, these activities only involved Jakpro and groups on behalf of the artist community, without involving the Jakarta Academy (AJ) and the Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ).

The conflict re-emerged because the moratorium on the revitalisation of TIM was actually set in February 2021, but the FSPTIM felt that Jakpro did not heed the agreement. Therefore, the FSPTIM filed a complaint with the Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) on 23 March. 

"The FSPTIM has the impression that Jakpro wants to deny it after the determination of the moratorium on TIM revitalisation in February 2021," the FSPTIM wrote in a letter of complaint to the DPRD, as reported by JPNN.

"The results of the forum were not implemented. Now, the physical construction and the content are not in accordance with the will of the artists," said DPRD member from the PDI-P faction Jhonny Simanjuntak when explaining the FSPTIM complaint. 

The artists also said that the lighting, acoustics and audience seating system at the Graha Bhakti Budaya (GBB) building were overhauled by Jakpro so that they did not support theatrical performances. 

They also disagreed that the building was made to cater up to 1,000 seats because it was not in accordance with theatre standards. 

"What for? It's more of a pop art activity. The capacity should be 600 so that there is closeness between the audience and the theatrical performance itself,” Jhonny cited the complaint.

The artists also requested that the operations of TIM after the revitalisation not fully regulated only by the provincial administration, but handed back to the artists under a regional-owned public service agency (BLUD).

Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria said the TIM revitalisation project is almost complete. He also said that the revitalisation plan has involved artists and always ensures their involvement.