The Biennale Jogja XVI Equator #6 2021 is nearing its end. On Thursday afternoon (11/11), on the Main Stage of the Jogja National Museum (JNM), the Management Conference was held. Small talk flowed among the workers who manage the Biennale Jogja XVI. On the stage, seven representatives from seven divisions at the Biennale Jogja were ready.
Seeing the exhibition amid a pandemic, how did the Biennale Jogja manage to keep conditions conducive? For this reason, Ladija Triana Dewi as the coordinator of the Public Program explained that the program was arranged in such a way to manage a conducive state.
Program development continues. Since the first day of the Biennale, 70 programs have been designed. Towards the end of the event, there are additions up to 91 programs. Broadly speaking, the program corresponds with curators and directors.
Activation of public programs, which is arguable quite a few, is structured in a certain way. The preparation of the program every week is arranged so that it gets the same rhythm and is not boring.
“For public programs, there are many activations. So, they’re arranged with a good flow. There are 3 batches, the first opening week is very busy, the second is a performance from the activation of artists’ works, the last one is the closing, “explained Ladija.
One of the program’s challenges is adjusting the artists’ schedules. Artists, who have their matters to attend to, make the program division inevitably have to adjust their time. Protests from other committees have become commonplace.
“Oftentimes it’s like, what the heck, this is an impromptu program. Wow, how come the program changes?” said Ladija, who was greeted with laughter.
Program arrangements must also adjust to current conditions. Permissions and others matters are of course very important, especially if there is an activation of works in the form of performances or gigs. Therefore, the program itself implements Crowd Management. They also always discuss and coordinate with other divisions, for example, if there is a visit and activation of works.
The registration division is the main figure responsible for banning or permitting visitors to enter Biennale Jogja XVI Equator #6 2021 exhibition venues. The Jogja Biennale event, which was held amid this pandemic, implemented a new system for visitors through registration via a form that can be accessed from the official website of the Biennale Jogja, which is always awaited by visitors every day.
According to Anggita Selly Febriola as a representative of the registration section, even though the online registration system has been implemented, there are still visitors who are fussy and want to enter without registering first.
“There are some fussy visitors. They haven’t registered yet but still want to enter. Even though many visitors are like that, but we must remain steadfast and patient,“ said Anggita.
The quota is 150 people per day. Many visitors come from outside the city and they don’t even know that they have to register first, so there is a quota of 25 visitors for those who come directly to the place.
Biennale Jogja also has a guest list of visitors who had to send a letter or fill out a form first.
Throughout the event, the Biennale Jogja has attracted many visitors to every existing venue. As Anggita said, the average daily number of visitors at the Jogja National Museum is around 250 visitors, at Taman Budaya Yogyakarta about 100 visitors, then at Indieart House and Museum Dan Tanah Liat it reaches 60 to 50 visitors.
Space restrictions during the pandemic are certainly a very serious concern in organizing the Biennale Jogja XVI Equator #6 2021. For this reason, not only from the program and registration divisions which are mutually sustainable, each division has its way of working and dealing with the limiting rules during the pandemic period.
From registration, for example, you must always coordinate with the exhibition guide team in the gallery. This is done so that there is no accumulation of visitors in the gallery. In addition, it is also to maintain the convenience of visitors in enjoying the works in the gallery.
