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AFTER spending the past few months looking for ways to bring the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2020 according to the applicable schedule and safety standards, the Mudra Swari Saraswati Foundation finally made the tough decision to postpone this year’s Festival until further notice.
Like many other festivals in the world, the increasing number of COVID-19 pandemic cases that continue to increase in Indonesia and other countries has forced this decision to be taken. The Mudra Swari Saraswati Foundation understands that many lovers of literature and art are eagerly awaiting this year’s Festival, but the safety of visitors, speakers, staff, volunteers, and those involved in the Festival are the Foundation’s top priority.
“This is not an easy decision. Not only does it impact the Foundation and Festival teams, but it also means the loss of revenue through ticket sales and many valuable partnerships and financial support,” Janet DeNeefe as Founder and Director of UWRF said.
She explained, this would also have a major impact on local communities both in Ubud and Bali who were looking forward to the economic boost from the annual event that was so popular. Since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a global pandemic in March, Bali has become one of the most affected regions in Indonesia because it is highly dependent on tourism.
Two major initiatives of the Swra Saraswati Mudra Foundation, she continued: Ubud Writers & Readers Fesvital (UWRF) and Ubud Food Festival (UFF), over the years, have created significant economic benefits in all sectors of tourism, ranging from air travel, hotels, transportation, restaurants and retail, to farmers in the fields.
“UWRF as one of the largest literary festivals in Southeast Asia and UFF as the leading food festival in Indonesia, is the most important cross-cultural meeting in Indonesia, which shows the culture and talents of Indonesia on a diverse global stage,” she noted.
These festivals always provide reciprocity to the community and help promote Indonesia to the world. From Children & Youth Programs for local school students, bringing festivals to remote areas across the archipelago with Satellite Events, and supporting the future of Indonesian literature through the Emerging Indonesian Writer program, to organizing music shows, film screenings, and accessible art performances by everyone, bringing rows of food stalls from local businesses, and bringing the best writers, artists, performance performers, chefs and culinary experts to the global stage.
“For 16 years, UWRF has even become the most important cross-cultural initiative in the world, which bridges Indonesian and non-Indonesian cultures,” Janet DeNeefe concluded. [traveltext.id]
