Community Day at SAKA Museum: Your Time to Discover

Community Day at SAKA Museum: Your Time to Discover‍

By Marlowe Bandem

Denpasar, June 6, 2025

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In an era when cultural institutions must speak to the pulse of the present while honoring the past, SAKA Museum continues to open its doors wider. Community Day is its newest initiative—an open house for hospitality professionals across Kuta Selatan to discover the arts and ritual life of Bali through the lens of the museum’s collections.

Opened to the public in 2024, SAKA Museum serves as a living platform for exploring Balinese cosmology, ritual, and contemporary expression. Through its exhibitions and public programs, the museum seeks to connect ancestral knowledge with today’s realities.

More than fifty participants from the vibrant hospitality sector—frontliners, marketers, PR teams—joined the full-day event, which was thoughtfully divided into engaging sessions. Many brought their families, making it a day of shared learning and togetherness. The atmosphere was lively and full of discovery, as guests explored how museums like SAKA are bringing Balinese culture to life in ways that feel both relevant and meaningful.

In the Subak: The Ancient Order of Bali exhibition, children were especially drawn to the interactive panels of The Flow of Water, a hands-on game guiding water through terraced rice fields. Role-playing as pekaseh (subak chiefs), they learned about cooperative irrigation and pest control through touch and play.

Dr Judith E. Bosnak, SAKA Museum Director, reflected on the children’s curiosity:
“It was heartwarming to watch them make the connection between play and ecological wisdom,” she shared. One young participant beamed, “It’s like a puzzle, but for farming!”

In the museum’s auditorium, visitors experienced the emotional contrasts between the raucous energy of Pengrupukan (with its Ogoh-Ogoh processions) and the contemplative stillness of Nyepi through the SAKA film, a visual journey that highlights the spiritual choreography of Bali’s Saka New Year. For many, it was a powerful reminder of the island’s unique rhythm, where movement and silence coexist as one.

No less popular was Palelintangan, where guests eagerly lined up to discover their Balinese birthday traits.
“Saya ternyata lahir di Budha Paing!” exclaimed one guest, thrilled to learn she is a Gajah Mina—a mythical giant fish whose traits describe someone thoughtful, cautious, and idealistic.
“Katanya kadang bisa kelihatan pamer juga,” she laughed, pointing to the note about occasionally showing off intelligence or wealth. These discoveries sparked warm, personal conversations.
“Seperti Haruki Murakami ternyata,” said another, referring to the acclaimed novelist, who shares the same lintang.

Community Day reflects SAKA Museum’s commitment to engaging a broad spectrum of community members as partners in the preservation and promotion of Balinese heritage. By involving hospitality professionals, those who shape first impressions of Bali, the museum extends its voice into everyday encounters between guests and the island.

“Community Day responds directly and thoughtfully to AYANA Bali’s desire to expand the museum’s role as a place of dialogue, not just display,” shared Tantri Arihta Sitepu, SAKA’s Visitor Engagement Manager. “It’s been inspiring to see how quickly our team adapted. We’re not just inviting the public in—we’re stepping forward as collaborators.”

The initiative also opened new avenues for SAKA’s own team. Ni Kadek Ratnasari, normally in administration, stepped into the galleries as a sitter and storyteller—an empowering experience that let her connect with guests firsthand.

Meanwhile, Kisra, one of the gallery sitters, shared that the day offered valuable insights into how SAKA can further serve as a space for learning about the intricacies of Balinese culture, helping fellow professionals enhance their cultural understanding and deliver service with greater respect and depth.

Wayan Artana, a representative of Les Clefs d’Or Indonesia, praised SAKA’s efforts to preserve Balinese culture, especially through the Subak exhibition, which authentically captures the Kadasa festival at Ulun Danu Batur Temple. He also expressed interest in Threads of Bali, a historical timeline displayed at the Knowledge Center.

One guest who stayed until closing was Bapak Suyasa, a longtime taxi driver stationed at AYANA Bali. For him, the visit was deeply moving, so much so that he struggled to put it into words. “Saya sampai kehabisan kata-kata,” he shared. “Bukan hanya saya bisa ikut menikmati, tapi saya benar-benar kagum. Koleksinya hidup, dan menurut saya setara dengan tampilan bangunan yang tiap hari saya lewati.” His words reflect what many felt—that the museum’s collection, often admired from its facade, now speaks clearly and meaningfully from within.

In the months to come, Community Day will evolve into a recurring program to strengthen the ties between the museum and those who animate Bali’s daily life. Whether behind the wheel, at the front desk, or backstage in the office, everyone has a place in this ongoing cultural conversation.

Now is your moment. It’s your time to discover.

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Follow our events at: www.sakamuseum.org
@sakamuseum