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It was a beautiful afternoon in Jakarta, the sun was shining, the air was clear — well, for Jakarta. In short, it was a perfect day for a stroll in the park, and I happened to remember that a friend had told me about a park that hosts a musical performance every Sunday.

Taman Suropati in Menteng is located strategically beside the US Embassy and in front of the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas). The park is one of the few open spaces left in Jakarta. Planted mostly with mahogany trees, it has three birdhouses that are home to pigeons, statues representing the member countries of Asean, and two fountains. On a hot day, a shady spot under one of the mahogany trees is especially tempting.

My ears caught the sounds of violins, cellos, guitars, saxophones, percussion instruments and children’s voices, performing the national anthem and other patriotic songs. Directly in front of the US Embassy, some 50 people sat on plastic chairs with their musical instruments, playing as a conductor led them. Listeners gathered around them, applauding the performance.

I sat on a concrete curb near them, scanning the faces around me, and spotted my friend. She was seated in the front row of the orchestra playing her alto violin. I had met Ayu during a previous interview, when she mentioned an art community that practiced and performed in the park. The community also taught street kids to play musical instruments.

Komunitas Taman Seni Suropati (Suropati Art Park Community), shortened to Kota Seni, began when about 50 artists from diverse backgrounds decided to restore the function of Suropati Park as a vibrant public space.

“People are afraid to go to parks in Jakarta because of the perceived image that a walk in the park is not safe, or that a park is only good for pacaran [dating],” Ayu said, after the Sunday performance. “And we want to change those incorrect impressions.”

The community’s first move was to hold Taman Suropati Art Day in December 2008, during which the group gave musical performances, sold handicrafts made by the artists and taught street children to play musical instruments.

The public responded positively to the initiative and nearby state offices, such as Bappenas, offered support in the form of food and transportation. Vice President Jusuf Kalla is a frequent visitor to the Sunday events, usually accompanied by his grandchildren.

“Jusuf Kalla said that [Kota Seni] makes his job easier,” said Abdul, head of Kota Seni’s photography division. “He often visited the park to see us.”

In February of this year, the community became a legal foundation. Chaired by artist Bhatara Krishna, the foundation aims to rehabilitate parks throughout Indonesia and to empower street children who want to learn music and arts.

On Monday, Independence Day, Kota Seni held a concert in Ancol to accompany a wayang beber show (a type of traditional Javanese performance that uses illustrated scrolls rather than puppets). Further performances are planned for Sept. 27 at Taman Ayodya in Barito, South Jakarta, and for Suropati Park at an undecided date in December.

Ayu, who is also a public relations officer for the community, said, “We want to raise Indonesian culture up, combining it with our music.”

A further series of performances is being planned to accompany a Reog Ponorogo show (a folk dance featuring huge masks) and other traditional art performances.

Many of the street children who were once students are now full members of the orchestra.

“The orchestra is comprised of Kota Seni instructors like Mbak Ayu and Bang Bathara, former students who are now teaching and performing and others who want to perform with us,” Abdul said.

“These kids used to hang out at bus terminals, busking without proper musical skills. We teach them skills and let them buy the [musical] instruments from us in installments. Hence, they can make more money from busking and from performing gigs at cafes.”

After less than a year in existence, Kota Seni now has between 300 and 400 members, and hopes to expand its concept to other parks in Indonesia.

In Jakarta, the group has already established another group for Ayodya Park in Barito, South Jakarta. “We were invited to start a similar community in Tasikmalaya, West Java,” Ayu said.

“We have an annual official committee for holding events throughout the year,” said Tohas, who works in marketing for a cellphone provider. “I am in charge of promotion and fund-raising for the events.

“Once, I received a warning letter from my office for being late so often. Then I brought my boss here, and let him see for himself that I was late because I was helping [Kota Seni]. He was impressed and wanted to help here as well.”

The foundation is now looking to form partnerships with commercial entities, Tohas said.

“Actually, what we need now are foster companies. Hey! Maybe your office wants to be one of our foster companies?”