DSJ Cultural Arts Festival 2026 – KULTURANTARA
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Welcome to KULTURANTARA 2026 – Deutsche Schule Jakarta welcomes our partner schools from New Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Manila for a week of creativity, culture, and connection.
Dear students, dear colleagues, dear parents, distinguished guests,
a very warm welcome to the Kulturfestspiele 2026 – Kulturantara – at Deutsche Schule Jakarta! 💛
Over the coming days, our campus becomes a vibrant space for exchange – a place where culture connects across borders, languages, and traditions.
From
April 22 to 26, we will experience a diverse program of art, music, dance, theatre, crafts, and media – created by dedicated teachers and, above all, by our students. This festival is far more than a presentation of creative work; it is a space for collaboration, shared learning, and new perspectives.
Follow the highlights of KULTURANTARA right here ...
Throughout the festival, we’ll be sharing daily insights, student work, and the most exciting moments as they happen.
We warmly invite you to join us for the Opening Ceremony on Wednesday, April 22 at 18:30, as we celebrate the beginning of these special days together in a festive and welcoming atmosphere.
You are also very welcome to attend the Closing Event on Saturday, April 25, starting with a guided exhibition walk at 15:45, followed by the final celebration in the aula at 16:45, where we will reflect on the many experiences and moments shared throughout the festival.
The workshops reflect the spirit of Kulturantara and highlight what defines our approach: holistic education, creative freedom, and international openness – always connected to the local culture that surrounds us.
My sincere thanks go to everyone who has contributed to making this festival possible – our teachers, organizers, host families, and supporters. A special thanks also goes to Atiqa (Grade 12), who created the visual identity of Kulturantara, including the logo and the merchandise set for all participants.
As hosts, it means a great deal to us to share these days with you, and we would be delighted to welcome many of you in person. I wish all of us inspiring workshops, memorable performances, and many shared moments.
Selamat datang – herzlich willkommen – welcome to Kulturantara 2026!
Warm regards,
Jörg Dietze
Program Overview
German Embassy School New Delhi (DSND)
In the heart of New Delhi’s diplomatic quarter, DSND brings together students from diverse international backgrounds. The school is shaped by a strong sense of community and an open, globally minded culture that encourages responsibility, exchange, and personal growth.
Deutsche Schule Kuala Lumpur (DSKL)
A truly unique feature of DSKL is its location on the shared Eurocampus with the French School of Kuala Lumpur. This creates a naturally bicultural environment where students experience everyday cultural exchange within a modern, collaborative campus setting.
Christliche Deutsche Schule Chiang Mai (CDSC)
With its Christian profile, CDSC offers a values-based learning environment that emphasizes respect, responsibility, and community. Established in 1994 in northern Thailand, the school combines a strong sense of tradition with a supportive and inclusive atmosphere for students from diverse backgrounds.
German European School Manila (GESM)
GESM stands out for its broad international offering, combining Cambridge and IB programmes with strong German language education. With over 50 nationalities on campus, the school is one of the most diverse learning communities in the Philippines, creating a truly global environment.
RIS Swiss Section Bangkok
Combining Swiss and German educational traditions, RIS offers a distinctly multilingual environment with five languages taught across the school. Set in a green campus in Bangkok, it provides a close-knit community where students benefit from both individual support and a strong international outlook.
Highlights Day One, 22 April
Opening Ceremony
Paul, grade 9
On Thursday, April 22, the opening ceremony of Kulturantara, the festival of Southeast Asian German schools abroad, took place at DSJ.
At the beginning, the German and Indonesian national anthems were played. Afterwards, it was explained what our cultural festival is and what it means. With the sound of a gong, the festival was officially opened. After that, the schools performed many creative and unique pieces. First, the Deutsche Schule Kuala Lumpur started with a theatre play about two German tourists in Kuala Lumpur. Then the Indian delegation presented a mix of traditional and cultural dances.
Between the performances, the DSJ middle school band played a song. A highlight was the following performance of Filipino songs, which were full of energy. The second last country to perform was Thailand, starting with the school from Chiang Mai. Before the second school from Thailand performed, the All-Star Band of Deutsche Schule Jakarta played an Indonesian song. Then RIS from Bangkok presented a small story, a dance, and a song. The final performance by DSJ students showed four different regions of Indonesia in a puppet play. It was especially notable that one of the songs was composed by a student.
At the end, all the schools gathered together for a group photo, which gave the opening ceremony a meaningful closing.
The event was a great success, and everyone is excited to see what will happen in the coming days.
Highlights Day Two, 23 April
Field Trip to Jakarta & Start of Workshops
Hannah, grade 9
A Trip to the National Museum Jakarta
On Thursday, April 23, the Kulturantara teams went on a trip to the National Museum Jakarta.
After the Kulturantara teams arrived at the National Museum Jakarta, each team was assigned a guide who accompanied them during the tour. During the tour, they learned a lot about the history of Indonesia, from early times to the period of colonization.
At the beginning, they saw Qurans of different sizes. Afterwards, they learned about the many different islands of Indonesia. A highlight was the collection of Hindu and Buddhist statues. The detailed figures showed that Hinduism and Buddhism had a big influence on the history of Indonesia. Another topic was the colonization of Indonesia by the Netherlands.
Overall, the trip to the National Museum was a great and educational experience.
Highlights Day Three, 24 April
Cultural Workshops
Jayden, grade 9
Observations from the Workshops on Friday, April 24, 2026
The cultural festival at Deutsche Schule Jakarta offered many different long-term workshops in the areas of dance, music, art, and discussion. Students from different German schools in Southeast Asia took part and worked together in mixed groups.
In the Hip-Hop & House Dance workshop, students who are interested in dance and like to be active participated. The group consisted of participants from different schools who learned new dance steps together.
The workshop Standing in the Eyes of the World was attended by students who were interested in conversations and discussions. They exchanged opinions and listened to different perspectives on relevant topics.
In the Cross Cultural Ensemble, participants interested in music worked together. The group discussed who would take which instruments in order to create a shared ensemble.
The Movement Fusion workshop was attended by students who enjoy movement. Many flowing movements were combined, creating a calm and harmonious flow.
In the Tinikling workshop, students participated who wanted to combine rhythm and dance. Together, they practiced keeping the right timing and moving in sync with a harmonious beat.
In the Minimal Music workshop, music-enthusiastic students worked with xylophone and piano. They got to know the instruments and first tried to develop a feeling for playing music together.
The Randai Project was for those interested in learning traditional movements. The atmosphere was calm and focused, so everyone could learn the movements step by step.
In the creative workshop Shoebox Photography, students interested in art participated. They painted shoeboxes and designed them creatively and individually.
Overall, in the first long-term workshops, there was a lot of talking and discussion to find a common rhythm and to explore the different workshops. First successes became visible and showed that the participants had already found a shared way of working together.
Highlights Day Four, 25 April
Exhibition & Closing Ceremony
On the fourth and final day, both the short sessions and long-term workshops continued and reached their conclusion, with a clear focus on wrapping up and preparing for the final presentations. In particular, the long-term workshop groups used the remaining time to refine their outcomes, rehearse, and align their contributions for the closing performance in the Aula, bringing together several days of collaborative work into a cohesive final showcase.
After the final workshops wrapped up, the focus shifted to transforming the school hall and lobby into an exhibition space showcasing the results of the past days. Students and teachers brought the space to life, presenting their work from intricate weaving and folding pieces to experimental projects such as art with tempeh and camera obscura installations, each reflecting creativity, process, and local cultures. Natural materials like bamboo and rattan added a strong regional connection throughout many of the works. The exhibition was introduced through a guided tour led by our DSJ art teacher Chiara Giardi, who engaged with the teams and shared insights into the ideas and techniques behind their creations.
Jayden, grade 9
The final show of the cultural festival was very diverse. Many workshops presented their results on stage. At the beginning, the orchestra played We Are the World. Afterwards, there was a short speech by Laura Engel. Then the orchestra played All Around the World. In the program point “Experiencing Rhythm and Performing Together,” it was shown how music is built, focusing on beat, tempo, and rhythm.
The song We Will Rock You was also performed, including a fantastic solo. The Tinikling workshop showed a traditional dance from the Philippines, where rhythm and movement fit together in harmony. The Movement Fusion workshop, on the other hand, presented a calm dance with flowing movements and an impressive flow.
In the Anklung workshop, different songs were played, for example Balonku ada lima, which had been practiced very well by the students beforehand. The Randai Project showed a mix of dance and theatre with a small story in an adventurous atmosphere. The Hip-Hop & House Dance workshop was again very energetic, with many fast and partly acrobatic movements to the music. In Minimal Music, the music was calm and slow. Instruments like xylophone, bass, keyboard, and drums were used, and the piece was built up slowly with increasing tension. The workshop Standing in the Eyes of the World presented an impressive story combining music and theatre. In the Intercultural Ensemble, European music was mixed and performed together with Indonesian instruments such as the anklung.
At the end of the show, all participants from the different German schools abroad were invited onto the stage. The DSJ orchestra played once again. Finally, all helpers received small gifts. Overall, the show was very interesting, and all participants presented surprising ideas and creative results.
It was exciting to experience the diversity of cultures up close.
