Gianyar holds validation forum on wastra and metalwork craft book in Denpasar

Denpasar — Gianyar officials and craft stakeholders held a validation forum in Denpasar on Friday, 18 September 2026, to review a draft book on the regency’s wastra and metalwork traditions, according to Tribun Bali. The meeting took place at the Kirtya Sabha Mahotama Auditorium, on the third floor of ISI Bali’s Citta Kelangen Building.

The forum was described as a Focus Group Discussion on validation and refinement of the documentation. Tribun Bali reported that it brought together the Gianyar chapter of the Indonesian National Crafts Council, ISI Bali, a research and development team, relevant local government offices, artisans and business operators.

Surya Adnyani Mahayastra, chair of the Gianyar crafts council, said the draft had already been prepared and that the discussion was meant to verify its accuracy and collect feedback from people with direct knowledge of the sector, according to Tribun Bali. The goal, she said, was to ensure the material reflected real conditions in the field.

More than an archive

The documentation was presented as a tool for preservation and development, not only as a record for storage. Tribun Bali quoted officials as saying wastra and metalwork are tied to livelihoods, employment and community welfare, so safeguarding them should go hand in hand with innovation and stronger competitiveness.

A separate Gianyar government page says the regency was designated a World Craft City in 2018 by the World Craft Council. ISI Bali also published material noting Gianyar’s 2018 World Craft City recognition, supporting the context cited in the report.

The article did not specify a publication date for the finished book or identify the institution that will maintain and update the record once it is completed. It also did not list the villages, craft centres or individual traditions covered in the volume.

What the validation covered

• History and development of Gianyar’s craft traditions
• Production techniques and motifs
• Market conditions and challenges faced by makers
• Input from artisans, businesses and cultural institutions

The forum was framed as part of efforts to make the craft documentation useful to students, researchers and the wider public. Tribun Bali reported that participants aimed to test the substance of the book against conditions on the ground so the final version would be more accurate and useful.

The meeting underscores how Gianyar’s craft heritage is being treated as both cultural capital and an economic asset. In that framing, the draft book is intended to help preserve knowledge while supporting the people who still make a living from it.

Sources

• Tribun Bali
• Gianyar Regency Government