Photo: Bali-Bhuwana Nata Kerthi Nugraha International Award
In recognition of outstanding dedication, achievement, and reputation, the Institut Seni Indonesia Bali (ISI BALI) annually presents national and international awards to distinguished figures who have demonstrated significant contributions to the advancement of arts and culture.
In 2026, under the dynamic spirit symbolized by the “Year of the Fire Horse,” ISI BALI conferred the Bali-Dwipantara Nata Kerthi Nugraha VI National Award and the Bali-Bhuwana Nata Kerthi Nugraha VI International Award.
The national awards were presented as part of the 40th Graduation Ceremony for Bachelor’s, Applied Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral Programs for the Even Semester, held on Thursday, 27 August 2026. Previously, the international awards were presented as part of the 23rd Dies Natalis celebrations on Friday, 27 February 2026.
The Bali-Dwipantara Nata Kerthi Nugraha National Award was presented this year to five distinguished figures recognized for their dedication, appreciation, and commitment to advancing Balinese arts and culture. The recipients were Jero Gede Duhuran Batur, a prominent figure and patron of Balinese arts and culture; ABG Satria Naradha, a national media figure and advocate of arts and culture; Luh Made Asmariani Budhi, an entrepreneur and art enthusiast; I Nyoman Sudiana, S.Skar., M.Si., a prominent figure in the development of Balinese karawitan; and Wahyu Indira, S.Sn., M.Sn., a lecturer and visual communication design practitioner recognized as a driving force in the field of design.
Previously, during the 23rd Dies Natalis, held in conjunction with the opening of the 6th Bali Padma Bhuwana International Festival on 27 February 2026, ISI BALI presented the Bali-Bhuwana Nata Kerthi Nugraha International Award to five distinguished figures in the arts and culture who were recognized for their substantial contributions to preserving, developing, and promoting Balinese arts and culture on the global stage.
The five recipients were Dr. Mochammad Fadjroel Rachman, S.E., M.H., writer and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to Kazakhstan, concurrently accredited to Tajikistan; Jeon Dongsu, artist and Chairman of the Committee of Artists for World Peace, Republic of Korea; Mohd Asri Bin Abdul Ghafar, performing arts patron from Malaysia; Prof. Dr. Ni Made Arshiniwati, SST., M.Si., Indonesian academic and dance artist; and Drs. I Made Bendi Yudha, M.Sn., Indonesian academic and visual artist.
Both prestigious ISI BALI awards are regulated under Rector Regulation of ISI Denpasar No. 2 of 2022, as amended, most recently through Rector Regulation of ISI Denpasar No. 1 of 2024, concerning the Third Amendment to Rector Regulation of ISI Denpasar No. 2 of 2022 on Awards of the Institut Seni Indonesia Denpasar.
B-GAAD III 2026: A Hub for Arts and Design in the Asia-Pacific
Photo: Bali–Global Axis of Arts and Design (B-GAAD)
An eagerly anticipated event within the Asia-Pacific arts and design innovation ecosystem is the Bali–Global Axis of Arts and Design (B-GAAD). Following two successful editions that received strong appreciation from higher education institutions specializing in arts and design across the Asia-Pacific region, ISI BALI will host B-GAAD III with optimism and a spirit of cross-cultural solidarity.
Under the theme “Roh-Rong-Reh: Soul–Space–Sincerity,” or “Jiwa–Jagat–Junjung,” B-GAAD III will serve as a platform for the exchange of ideas, networking, and strategic communication among higher education institutions specializing in arts and design throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
The event will take place from 27 to 30 October 2026 at the Meraya Citta Campus of ISI BALI, Neka Art Museum, Komaneka Art Gallery, and several cultural venues across Bali.
The 2025 edition, B-GAAD II, involved 11 higher education institutions from various countries, including Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, Japan, the United States, Bangladesh, and the Republic of Korea.
The event featured several flagship programs, including the Bali–Global Arts and Design Symposium (B-GADS) with 26 international speakers; the Bali–Global Art Map Exhibition (B-GAME), involving 60 influential visual artists; and the Bali–Global Innovative Design Map Exhibition (B-GIDME), featuring 108 designers from Indonesia and other countries.
For its third edition, B-GAAD will expand its collaborative scope through eight flagship programs: B-GAAD’s Leader Summit; Bali–Global Arts and Design Symposium (B-GADS); Bali–Global Performing Arts Map (B-GPAM); Bali–Global Art Map Exhibition (B-GAME); Bali–Global Innovative Design Map Exhibition (B-GIDME); Bali–Global Encounter Figure (B-GEF); Bali–Global Authentic Trip (B-GAT); and Bali–Global Expo and Job Fair (B-GEJF).
The Chair of the B-GAAD III Organizing Committee, Dr. Kadek Dwiyani, stated that several international universities and institutions had confirmed their participation, including Dongduck Women’s University and Sungkyunkwan University from the Republic of Korea; Brigham Young University from the United States; University of Canterbury from New Zealand; the Graduate Institute of Musicology, National Taiwan University from Taiwan; LASALLE College of the Arts from Singapore; as well as Universiti Malaysia Kelantan and the Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan (ASWARA) from Malaysia.
ISI BALI’s Artistic Presence on the Global Stage
Photo: ISI BALI at The Pasar Indonesia in the Netherlands
The achievements of ISI BALI students continue to receive appreciation not only at home but also on international stages. In 2026, ISI BALI’s international artistic engagements included an invitation from the organizers of The Pasar Indonesia, participation in the Misato Bali Festival, and an official invitation to perform at a diplomatic reception hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The Pasar Indonesia was held at De Broodfabriek: Expo and Event Center, Rijswijk, the Netherlands, from 13 to 18 May 2026. The ISI BALI delegation consisted of Komang Prayoga Putra, a Master’s student in Arts; Dewa Ayu Made Adinda Ratna Devi, an undergraduate Dance student; and Ni Komang Trisna Devi, an Applied Bachelor’s student in Fashion Design.
The three selected students presented classical and contemporary Balinese artistic works, as well as a mask-making arts workshop. The event was officially opened by Laurentius Amrih Jinankung, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, together with Jeldert de Boer, Director of De Broodfabriek. The event attracted thousands of international visitors, including members of the Indonesian diaspora.
At the Misato Bali Festival 2026, which receives substantial financial support from the City of Misato, Shimane Prefecture, Japan, ISI BALI will present classical Balinese arts and collaborative works developed with local artists.
The delegation will be led by Ni Wayan Suartini, M.Sn., Coordinator of the Vocational Education in Cosmetology Study Program, accompanied by two undergraduate Dance students, Ni Luh Komang Sekar Kumala Dewi and Ni Putu Nilam Cahyani. The Misato Bali Festival will be held from 8 to 12 October 2026 under the theme of Cultural Exchange and Workshop.
In addition to participating in these two international events, ISI BALI has also received an official invitation from the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Hanoi, Vietnam, to participate in a series of diplomatic reception events from 6 to 9 October 2026.
Rector of ISI BALI, Prof. Dr. Wayan Adnyana, expressed his appreciation to ISI BALI’s international strategic partners for their invitations and trust in providing opportunities for the university’s academic community to present Indonesian classical works, contemporary innovations, and diverse forms of artistic collaboration.
“This appreciation is aligned with ISI BALI’s efforts to establish itself as the Global-Bali Arts Creativity Center Hub, generating broad and universal impact.”
Through these national recognitions, international collaborations, and global artistic engagements, ISI BALI continues to strengthen its position as an institution of higher arts education that connects knowledge, creativity, cultural heritage, innovation, and international collaboration.
