Kayon Giving Circle

Special Launch Offer!

Start your monthly gift before the end of the year and receive a free art print by MJ Myers, of a live painting from our Bali Comes to Buffalo 2024 performance.

Offer expires 12/31/2024

Named after the Kayon (Tree of Life) in Indonesian shadow puppet theater, our monthly giving program sustains and nurtures the growth of Indonesian arts and culture in Western New York.

The Kayon represents life, harmony, and the interconnectedness of all things. Like this sacred tree, your recurring gift:

  • Provides steady nourishment that helps our programs grow and thrive

  • Creates balance, helping us plan for the future while meeting present needs

  • Connects our community to authentic Indonesian arts and culture

Join our Giving Circle today, and help our cultural roots grow deeper and stronger.

Growing Together

Your ongoing support helps our cultural programs grow and flourish.

The Kayon is one of the most important puppets in wayang kulit shadow theater. It’s a figure that represents the Tree of Life—but it's much more than that. It appears at the beginning and end of every performance and during major scene transitions, symbolizing the cosmos, the balance of all existence, and the connection between earthly and spiritual realms.

Like the branches of the Tree of Life that reach in all directions, your monthly gift extends our ability to:

  • Share Indonesian arts with new audiences

  • Nurture young talent through education

  • Preserve traditional arts for future generations

  • Create connections between cultures

Recurring Giving Levels

Join at one of our suggested levels, or choose a custom amount that works for you:

  • Arjuna Level - $250/month: Like the skilled warrior prince of the Mahabharata, your steadfast support helps us maintain excellence in all we do.

  • Bima Level - $100/month: Named for the strong and loyal hero, your monthly gift provides strength to our core programs.

  • Semar Level - $50/month: Like the wise guardian of Javanese tradition, your support helps preserve and share Indonesian cultural heritage.

  • Hanuman Level - $25/month: Named for the devoted helper of good causes, your monthly gift makes our work possible.

  • Gareng Level - $10/month: Like the humble but wise punakawan, your faithful gift shows how small acts of support create meaningful change.

  • Cakil Level - $5/month: Every contribution, no matter the size, helps our programs flourish.

Why Monthly Giving Matters

Your recurring support provides Nusantara Arts with reliable, sustainable funding that allows us to:

  • Offer scholarships for low-income students

  • Maintain and repair our precious instruments

  • Transport instruments safely to performances and classes

  • Pay local teachers in our refugee youth after-school program

  • Create educational materials for classes and performances

  • Provide authentic costumes for our dancers

Why Join the Kayon Giving Circle?

  • Long-Term Impact

    Your monthly investment allows us to plan ahead and create lasting positive change in our community.

  • Cost-Effective

    Monthly giving reduces administrative costs, ensuring more of your gift goes directly to programming and education.

  • Convenient

    Set up your recurring donation once via credit card, then relax knowing you're making a difference all year round.