Founded in 2004, Yayasan Mudra Swari Saraswati is an independent, not-for-profit foundation committed to enriching the lives and livelihoods of Indonesians through a range of community-building arts, cultural, and culinary programs. It was founded by Janet DeNeefe and Ketut Suardana as a healing project in response to the first Bali bombing. The goal of the Foundation is to help fulfill the creative needs of Indonesia, its individuals and communities, while showcasing its cultural diversity – both traditional and contemporary – to the world. Creating a space for cross-cultural exchange and open-minded dialogue and discussions is at the heart of the Foundation. It achieves this through its core initiatives, Ubud Writers & Readers Festival and Ubud Food Festival. Through these major international events, the Foundation promotes Ubud as a center for arts and culture, while showcasing the artists, writers, chefs and producers of Indonesia on an international stage. Our events provide enormous networking opportunities, both locally and internationally, and help Indonesians reach their full potential through educational and capacity-building programs.