TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta-Indonesia’s biggest fine art market, Art Jog 2016 is still attracting many visitors and become trending topic in social media. Art Jog, with PT Freeport Indonesia as its sponsor, had been hugely criticized by artists, environmental and human rights activists.

However, many still visit Art Jog after three weeks of its opening. The organizing committee of Art Jog 2016, Tiyassari Basara said that an average of 1,000 tickets are sold in a day. Some 650 tickets are sold on weekdays and 1,500 are sold on weekends.

Earlier, the Director of Art Jog Heri Pemad said he would not return the sponsorship money of Rp100 million provided by PT Freeport Indonesia for the Indonesia’s biggest fine art market as he had made a commitment with Freeport.

Pemad said that it would not be easy for the organizing committee of Art Jog to sever the agreement with the American mining company midway through the contract. Art Jog is held in Jogja National Museum from May 27 to June 27, 2016, and is participated by at least 72 artists.

According to Pemad, if he cancels Freeport sponsorship, he could face legal consequences. “If we return Freeport’s money, it would mean that we broke our promise,” Heri said.

The organizing committee of Art Jog has been widely criticized by many as they have teamed up with Freeport. Criticism came from Andrew Lumban Gaol of the street art community. The Institution of Indonesian Muslim Artist and Cultural Observer (Lesbumi) of Nahdlatul Ulama, Front of Nahdliyin for the Sovereignty of Natural Resources (FNKSDA) and Peaceful Yogyakarta Solidarity Forum have also expressed their criticism.

SHINTA MAHARANI