PORTALJABAR, BOGOR CITY - The Bogor City Government through the Bogor City Tourism and Culture Office (Disparbud) held auditions and curations for hundreds of street buskers at Taman Ekspresi on (22/4/2025).

This activity is part of the Bogor City Government's efforts to create a space for targeted artistic expression while also following up on the program of the Task Force (Satgas) for the Eradication of Premanism.

The audition was attended by the Deputy Mayor of Bogor, Jenal Mutaqin, Head of the Bogor City Tourism and Culture Office, Iceu Pujiati, and Head of the Bogor City Housing and Settlement Office (Disperumkim), Juniarti Estiningsih.

Bogor Deputy Mayor, Jenal Mutaqin, emphasized that this activity is part of the Bogor City Government's commitment to creating a more orderly and humane city. One of the Task Force's targets is to eliminate the presence of buskers in city transportation (angkot).

"Not all buskers cause trouble, but because the curation is carried out simultaneously, all buskers are required to participate so that they can be arranged and placed in the appropriate location," said Jenal.

"The term is this is the government's effort to elevate the status of buskers to become artists in Bogor City," he continued.

He said that in the future, buskers will no longer be at intersections or public transportation, but will perform in city parks, cafes, restaurants or park stalls.

Income will also come from voluntary appreciation from the community, no longer from coercion or presence in traffic spaces.

"The audition assessment includes musical performance, neatness of dress, and behavior," he said.

"If anyone is proven to have consumed alcohol or been involved in negative things, we will immediately remove them," he added.

Jenal also expressed his commitment to continue eradicating the circulation of illegal alcoholic beverages in Bogor City, including in small stalls that have long been a source of social vulnerability.

"We are paid by the people to look after the younger generation," he said.

"Alcohol is a trigger for gangsterism, illegal racing, brawls, and annoying buskers," Jenal continued.

"So this is part of our efforts to provide a better way of life," he stressed.

Head of the Bogor City Housing and Settlement Agency, Juniarti Estiningsih, said there are eight large parks that can be used as performance locations for buskers.

Each park can provide one to three viewing points.

"We will also prepare a semi-permanent spot with electricity for sound system or instrument needs," explained Juniarti.

Head of the Bogor City Tourism and Culture Office, Iceu Pujiati, added that around 233 buskers who took part in the auditions would be grouped into several music groups.

"This is an effort by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor to improve the competence of work partners in the arts sector," said Iceu.

"We hope that in the future they can perform in various city, provincial, and national music events," he concluded. (Bogor City Communication and Information Service/Fau)