Pramono Wants To Move IKJ To Old Town, Manut Chancellor

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung's plan to move the Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ) campus in Cikini to the Kota Tua area was positively welcomed by the campus.

IKJ Chancellor Syamsul Maarif admitted that he agreed with the decision. Given, IKJ needs a wider space of art expressions.

"It's very supportive. In fact, we are finalizing the plan. Because in Jakarta as a global city and a cultural center, of course IKJ becomes a kitchen or thinker, yes, in the context of art and culture," said Syamsul when contacted, Tuesday, October 21.

Syamsul said that the idea of making Kota Tua part of the IKJ campus environment was actually not new. According to him, the idea has appeared before and is now being discussed again in the context of revitalizing this historic area.

"That's why we are finalizing it. We haven't discussed it in detail, but it's an old idea. So we're thinking about how the Old Town might be from IKJ, as an art college, and as a facilitation of DKI as the city of the culture center," he said.

According to Syamsul, the transfer of the IKJ campus will not be carried out in total. He assessed that creative arts activities that can be displayed to the public can be carried out in Kota Tua, while academic activities continue to run at the Cikini location.

"The transfer is not like the mind of a house. It could be that the activity is moving, creative activities can be displayed in Kota Tua, so we move it to Kota Tua, that's the idea," said Syamsul.

Syamsul opened the possibility of a more flexible campus division model.

"So it could be at Campus 1, 2 or something, Campus 1 for example in Cikini, Campus 2 in Kota Tua, or Campus 1 Kota Tua, Campus 2 in Cikini, right. But what is clear is that the kitchen in Cikini is still possible to keep it used like that," he continued.

Currently, all IKJ campus facilities are still assets belonging to the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government. Because local governments are not allowed to manage universities directly, a foundation that houses IKJ and the campus has received a grant for operational activities from the DKI Provincial Government.

DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung revealed the reason he wanted the Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ) to be moved to the Kota Tua area. Currently, IKJ is in the Cikini area, located next to Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM).

According to Pramono, the artistic ecosystem of students will be more suitable if they receive education in the Kota Tua area. This location also supports arts and cultural activities.

"The art stage will be very easy to hold if the artists are then also there while attending school. So that's what we did, why then we will move the IKJ to Kota Tua," said Pramono at the East Jakarta Mayor's Office, Tuesday, October 21.

Currently, the DKI Provincial Government is conducting an in-depth investigation so that the presence of IKJ in cultural heritage areas can strengthen the character of Kota Tua as a center of art and creativity.

"Hopefully this will be a trigger or initiator to revive the Old City, as a heritage place, a place that can develop well, and then of course it will be better, neater, but the arts can still be done," said Pramono.