Minister of Culture Fadli to JKPI: Don't Just Events, Build a Cultural Heritage Ecosystem

JAKARTA - Minister of Culture (Menbud) Fadli Zon reminded that the collaboration in preserving heritage should not stop at ceremonies. In a meeting with the Indonesian Heritage City Network (JKPI) and representatives of local governments at the Ministry of Culture, Wednesday (18/2), Fadli emphasized that cultural programs must lead to a permanent work system - not just a calendar of events.

"The program must not stop at events only. We must build a cultural ecosystem in every sector, towards a future cultural economy," said Fadli.

He said the government was encouraging the acceleration of the establishment of national cultural reserves and intangible cultural heritage, including proposals to UNESCO. Fadli also touched on the extension list scheme (adding elements to heritage that has been registered) and joint nomination (joint submission across countries).

In terms of support, Fadli said funding such as the Indonesian Fund (cultural funding scheme) and Non-Physical DAK (budget assistance for programs, not physical development) for museums, cultural parks, and cultural reserves in the region. He assessed that museums and cultural parks are key infrastructure that needs to be revitalized through joint work between the center-provinces-regencies/cities.

Fadli said that a number of cities were considered to have the potential to strengthen the cultural ecosystem, including Yogyakarta, Banda Aceh, Ternate, and Ambon. In Ternate, he mentioned the opportunity to develop a museum themed on the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace. Meanwhile, in Ambon, the government is said to be preparing a 400th anniversary of scientist Georg Eberhard Rumphius.

The meeting was attended by, among others, the Mayor of Yogyakarta and Chairman of the JKPI Presidium Hasto Wardoyo, the Mayor of Banda Aceh Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal, the Mayor of Ternate H. M. Tauhid Soleman, the Deputy Mayor of Palembang Prima Salam, the Deputy Mayor of Ambon Ely Toisutta, JKPI Director Nanang Asfarinal, and the JKPI Expert Council Gaura Macacarita, Dadang Rukmana, and Taufik Rahzen. From the Ministry of Culture, Restu Gunawan, Ismunandar, Masyitoh Annisa Ramadhani Alkatiri, and I Made Dharma Suteja were present.

Fadli hopes that cooperation with JKPI and local governments will be strengthened through technical assistance and sustainable programs, so that heritage preservation not only maintains identity, but also encourages a culture-based economy.