I have always been a big fan of masks. They reveal so much about various cultures and religions. This collection is truly outstanding in quality of items and presentation. The Balignese masks are first rate as is all the other samples of masks from many countries, including Japanese Indonesian, African Papua, Sri Lanka, Italy, just to name a few. The puppets are just fantastic as well as are they articulated shadow puppets. If you have any interest in this type of art, you probably won’t find a better collection anywhere

Seven pavillions set in lush grounds, each an absolute goldmine of insights into cultures from around the world, captured in masks and puppets. To prevent this becoming just an endless stream of "funny faces", it's helpful to do some background research before and after your visit. For example, watch YouTube videos of wayang golek, wayang kulit's less famous cousin. Enter "Craftsmanhip, The Making of Wayang Golek", as a good starter, into the YT search bar. The wayang golek collection here is superb, with regional variations in Indonesia all showcased. It's incredible to think that the whole collection in the museum was basically acquired by one man, who now showcases them free of charge. This gives useful context into the whys and whats of the puppets. One small quibble: the descriptions in some parts are hard to read: I got around this by just snapping a photo on my phone, to look up after I got home. There are so many treasures here that even Asians will be astounded by how many unknown cultures are at our doorstep. The fact that entry to this magnificent museum is free is utterly amazing; the other art museums around Ubud can be pricey, with AMRA coming in at 150K IDR. A friendly guide who's been there for 20 years will be happy to show you around.There are two sets of toilets onsite; not stellar, but you can "go", don't worry. A small cafe too if I'm not mistaken, but Ubud's plentiful dining options are close by anyway. Utterly unmissable, if you have any interest in world culture.

my husband and I are visited this place today and we would like to say thank you for giving access to the public to see and learn about masks and puppets. It was our best day in Ubud. And unbelievably FREE. We had wonderful time, beautiful clean gardens, very interesting Exhibition very well organized. A lot of see and learn. Thanks a lot.