Minister of Culture and Art Aspires for West Sumatra Artists, Soroti Ancient Manuscripts Vulnerable to Disaster

JAKARTA - On the sidelines of a visit to the disaster-affected area, the Minister of Culture (Menbud) Fadli Zon met with West Sumatra (Sumbar) artists and cultural figures to absorb the aspirations for the development of cultural arts and the protection of cultural objects. The dialogue took place at Aie Angek Cottage, Padang Panjang, Wednesday, December 24, with a focus on the challenges of the visual arts ecosystem and the threat of damage to ancient manuscripts after the disaster.

The artists highlighted the limitations of space and art infrastructure, the polemics of the development of cultural facilities, and the lack of sustainable support. They emphasized the quality of West Sumatra visual art is equivalent to the national level, but has not been optimally facilitated.

Another urgent issue is the condition of manuscripts and ancient manuscripts that are stored in old surau on the riverbanks and are prone to flooding. Efforts to collect data and digitize have been underway, but physical protection and relocation of storage are considered inadequate.

"This manuscript is hundreds of years old and has long been in a threatened condition. Without proper relocation and protection, we risk losing an important heritage," said Pramono in a written statement received on Saturday, December 27.

In response to this, Fadli Zon emphasized the government's commitment to strengthening cultural development in the regions through funding schemes. He called the Indonesian Fund an instrument to support fine art, manuscripts, and regional cultural activities so that they can be optimally utilized.

He also emphasized cross-sectoral collaboration between ministries, local governments, and the artist community so that programs and funding have a real impact.

This discussion was attended by the Ministry of Culture and West Sumatra cultural actors, including curators, cultural activists, and representatives of the art community. The input will be used as a material to strengthen policies, especially the protection, development, and utilization of fine arts and manuscripts in West Sumatra so that they can contribute more broadly at the national level.