Kemendikbudristek Designates 213 Indonesian Intangible Cultural Heritages

Director of Cultural Protection, Director General of Culture, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Judi Wahjudin at the Seminar on Protecting Indonesian Cultural Heritage in Jakarta, Tuesday (24/10/2023). (Antara/Astrid Faidlatul Habibah)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) has determined that there are 213 Indonesian Intangible Cultural Heritages (WBTbI) which include legendary folklore, food recipes, languages, folk games and performing arts such as dances.

Director of Cultural Protection, Directorate General of Culture, Ministry of Education and Culture, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Judi Wahjudin, said that the 213 heritages designated as WBTbI cover five domains originating from 31 provinces in Indonesia.

"This determination should not stop at just appreciation, but what is important is the future action plan as a form of responsibility in efforts to advance national culture that provides benefits to society," he said in a statement in Jakarta, Sunday, quoted by Antara.

Apart from the WBTbI designation, certificates for the designation of 19 National Ranking Cultural Heritage with five Cultural Heritage categories originating from eight provinces in Indonesia were also handed over by the Ministry of Education and Culture this year.

Judi said that his party was trying to preserve and protect Indonesia's cultural heritage through recording and determining cultural heritage for both the CBN and WBTbI.

Not only that, the Ministry of Education and Culture also has the function of protecting, developing, utilizing and fostering all cultural heritage.

Therefore, Judi reminded that the preservation and protection of Indonesia's cultural heritage, both CBN and WBTbI, must not only be completed until its designation as national cultural heritage, but there needs to be real follow-up so that the cultural heritage remains protected.

Apart from that, the existence of cultural heritage must also be able to encourage its potential and usefulness for cultural owners and the wider community so that it is not lost to time.

"Together with our partners, we will develop instruments to carry out better evaluation and follow-up, which will then be continued by friends in the regions," said Judi.