This year's Bali Arts Festival, scheduled to be held from June 22-July 20, will cost around Rp2 billion, higher than the previous budget of Rp1.1 billion.

The Festival's Committee Chief Ngakan Made Samudra revealed the budget for the upcoming Bali Arts Festival XXIV in the plenary meeting with the Governor of Bali at The Jayasabha Building, Denpasar, on Wednesday, March 6, 2002. He said that the budget increase is sure to improve the activities at the festival.

Bali governor Dewa Made Beratha asked the committee to solve the problem of the unruly crowds in front of the VIP podium. "Last year, when President Megawati opened the Bali Arts Festival, people and press were crowded in front of the VIP podium where the president stood," he said. The coming festival is expected to be free of such marauding crowds as a special press area will be allocated.

In addition, Governor Beratha also suggests the granting of bigger prizes for the winners. He asked the Juries to evaluate objectively, since the winners of the competitions to be held at the festival will represent Bali to the foreign countries in the Arts and Culture promotions.