Madura Cultural Museum Officially Opened, Culture Minister Says Strategic Value for Cultural Development

BANGKALAN - Culture Minister Fadli Zon inaugurated the Madura Cultural Museum at Trunojoyo Madura University (UTM), Bangkalan, East Java, Monday (22/12). This museum is projected as a center for documentation, research, and education of Madura culture, as well as strengthening the role of regional culture in the national and global context.

Minister of Education Fadli Zon appreciates the initiative to establish a museum initiated by universities. According to him, the presence of the Madura Cultural Museum is an important step in the midst of still limited campuses that have cultural museums. He assessed that this museum has a strategic position in the advancement of culture, especially in the field of museum.

"Hopefully this museum will grow bigger. I believe there are not many Madura cultural museums, especially those initiated by universities," said Fadli Zon.

The Madura Cultural Museum is expected to be a space for preservation and development of culture, a learning center for young generations, and a node of collaboration between academics, communities, and society.

Head of the UTM Social and Cultural Research and Innovation Center, Iskandar Dzulkarnain, said that this museum is the result of the joint work of various parties, including collection grants from culturalists. He emphasized that this museum is part of the UTM research downstreaming agenda.

"This museum is the beginning. We hope for support for strengthening so that it is more representative and informative," said Iskandar.

The inauguration was symbolically carried out by Minister of Education Fadli Zon together with the Rector of UTM Safi', Bangkalan Regent Lukman Hakim, General Chairman of the Indonesian Museum Association Putu Supadma Rudana, and cultural activist Zawawi Imron. On that occasion, the Rector of UTM handed over the Bolodewo Mask to the Minister of Culture.

The Museum of Madura Culture stores various historical and cultural artifacts of Madura, ranging from manuscripts, paintings, textiles, masks, traditional weapons, to various typical odheng of Madura from various ethnic groups. This collection records the journey of Madura culture from the colonial era to the development of its community today.

Ending his visit, Fadli Zon emphasized that the Ministry of Culture was ready to support the development of the Madura Cultural Museum as part of strengthening the expression and identity of the nation's culture.