[Unpad.ac.id, 04/09/2013] Unpad Rector, Prof. Ganjar Kurnia accepted a visit from West Java Vice Governor, Deddy Mizwar on Wednesday (4/09) at the Executive Lounge, Unpad Bandung. In that occasion, Rector and Vice Governor discussed several programs regarding art potentials in West Java. Unpad Vice Rector III, Dr. med. Setiawan, Vice Rector IV, Prof. Roni Kastaman, and the Head of Unpad Student and Alumni Development Unit, Dr. Heryawan Kemal Mustafa.
Rector opened the visit with a brief presentation on programs initiated by Unpad on arts and culture, one of which is a monthly event named Pidangan Seni Budaya Rumawat which has organized at least 60 art performances in the last 5 years. “The event is a form of appreciation to art and culture, especially Sundanese arts,” said he. Other events include Traditional Sports Olympic (Ootrad), Basic Course of Sundanese Culture, and Three-way Chess Competition (U-Camaintian). In addition, the university has initiated the commemoration of the International Mother Language Day, and also delegated art representatives promoting Sundanese culture to a number of European countries.
“The main purpose of the development is based on the fact that nearly 500 kinds of Sundanese arts are on the verge of extinction. We are preserving them by exhibiting the extinct ones at the museum and preserving the near extinct ones,” Rector said. He then proposed some preservation programs starting from every district in West Java by developing at least two kinds of art in schools and encouraging local governments to organize cultural activities which are planned to be a routine. Other programs include scholarships for potential artists to study at SMKN 10 Bandung, which is an art-based school potential to educate Sundanese artists.
Vice Governor showed his appreciation to Unpad’s efforts to preserve the culture through art performances. “The programs are not merely to produce artists, but also to make intellectuals (university students) recognize Sundanese culture,” said he. Mizwar also discussed about the concept of the establishment of Cultural Committee in West Java which is a facility for artists who have concern on Sundanese culture funded by the provincial government.
