ThinkCity – Be the change

JAKARTA IS SINKING UNDER WATER

Over the last 30 years, the Northern parts of Jakarta are slowly being submerged by the sea. The two main reasons behind this phenomena are the overexploitation of the wells that drain the underground aquifers, causing the city to sink and the rising sea level due to climate change.

In order to raise public awareness and to help vulnerable communities affected by this tragic situation, a group of artists, associations and individuals decided to join forces by setting up an ambitious and demonstrative project in the North of the City.

THINKCITY: AN AID AND AWARENESS PROJECT

ThinkCity aims to raise public awareness to the ‘sinking’ phenomenon through the use of street art and sobering art installations. By highlighting the reality of these areas, the objective is to create the desire for the people to get involved and help the vulnerable communities affected by this situation.

In April 2022, the team started the production of the communication content to present the project: website, teaser video and search for sponsors and partners (NGOs, communities, artists’ collective, public and private institutions). A participative financing campaign is taking place as well as the search for other partners and sponsors. This campaign aims to raise funds to support the local communities in North Jakarta, who are mostly-affected by this situation.

A DUAL PURPOSE

- To raise public awareness on environmental and social issues in North Jakarta through art and a widespread communication campaig through a street-art event to be organized early September 2022.

- To collect funds to support GK Indonesia, an association working and supporting he populations located in affected areas in the North of Jakarta.

THE EVENT

The artistic event will take place two month after the beginning of the project in two locations in the north of the city:

- Cilincing, a fishermen's village, where the local population is directly affected by the floods and the sinking of the city under the sea.

- The Masjid Waladuna Muara Baru, which is already submerged and an iconic image of Jakarta being under water.

A dozen street artists present to paint murals on the identified walls during the event. The murals will be a commentary that highlight the environmental issues happening north of the city.

In addition to bringing art in this neglected area, a short documentary will showcase the artists’ work, the stakeholders’ goals and provide a platform for the local communities to voice their opinions toward this ‘sinking’ issues and the SinkCity initiative.

THE LOCAL AID

The fundraising campaign will allow us to aid actions carried out to support the local population affected by the sinking of the city.

GK Indonesia will collect the funds in order to support their programs in Rusunawa Marunda and Daan Mogot. These two places are dedicated to people who have been relocated due to the floods happening in Jakarta. GK Indonesia aims to supportthese communities in their relocation by creating new economic opportunities for families and a safer environment to live.

ThinkCity’s support will be divided into 4 pillars, all reaching the same purpose: developing a safe and sustainable environment for communities from North Jakarta: social development, education, economic independence, and environmental issues.

Estimated budget of the project

A provisional budget has already been estimated for the realisation of the project. GK Indonesia would need a minimum of 7,800$ to carry out its activities. The street-art event in itself would represent a total cost of approximately $1,600, including logistics, transportation, paint for the artists and food. The communication aspect would consist of the production of a documentary on the event and the actions of GK Indonesia for the people affected by the floods in the north of the city.