Nusantara Arts

There is a Thriving Indonesian Gamelan Music Scene in Buffalo!!

Because of the incredible successes of Give 716's past Nusantara Arts has launched our programming to new heights. In 2023 we founded new Balinese Semar Pegulingan and Gender Wayang ensembles alongside our Javanese gamelan ensemble. We now have triple the capacity for incredible Indonesian music and art be they classes, performances, or community outreach. Our music is reaching wider audiences with performances at the new Buffalo AKG Art museum and Asbury hall.

What does all this mean?! It means yes, we are growing. and we need to raise the funds to keep it all going. That's where you come in! Help us reach our goal of $15,000 so we can hire the staff needed to facilitate the incredible work we are doing and help us make a really big impact this next year!

Why give one Give 716?? -  You have the chance to double your donations through matching and get some cool Bills and Sabers swag!

What do we need it for? - Our growth over the last few years has changed EVERYTHING.

- We are Hiring our first internal employees for marketing and operations this year so our organization can run better than ever! As we grow we desperately need this support!

- We are going to bring in a guest musician from Java to Live in Buffalo for a full 4 months! A Game changer for our Javanese gamelan group!

- Our new afterschool program needs support! We have been teaching gamelan music to refugee children in collaboration with Buffalo String Works!

- Our Instruments need repairs! - after many years of use we have a bit of maintenance to do including, painting, woodworking and more! Help Keep our instruments seaworthy for future generations!

Over the next year we plan on: Beginner music classes, In-School classes, performances big and small!, New activities like, Indonesian cooking classes, dance classes, and Batik classes! Oh yeah, and we are renovating our home. Help us do all these things!

What's our Story?

Nusantara Arts was born from the growth and success of the Buffalo Gamelan Club, an informal group existing since 2016. We share Indonesian music, art, culture and traditional learning methods with Erie County and beyond, offering community music classes as well as music performances, shadow puppet theatre, and dance performances with world renowned guest artists. Our performances at Kleinhans, Artpark, The Buffalo Museum of Science and dozens of other places, are "not to be missed" events that captivate our audience with music, dance, and shadow puppetry.

Nusantara Arts is an organization that shares Indonesian music, art, Dance, and culture, and traditional learning methods with Buffalo, NY and beyond. Gamelan is a traditional Indonesian instrument group and is one of the oldest continuously played instrumental music traditions in the world. The instruments are bronze and wood, and are played by a group of up to 20 musicians. The music of gamelan inherently promotes community, inclusion, diversity, and artistic excellence. Nusantara Arts is a unique contributor to the arts dialogue of Buffalo, New York and is growing in its status as a facilitator and provider of Indonesian cultural content for American and Worldwide audiences. Nusantara Arts is putting Buffalo on the worldwide map with our unique approach, enthusiasm and commitment to quality programming. Help us continue our work!