Indarung I Cari Masa Depan Baru, Fadli Zon Dorong Jadi Ruang Budaya

PADANG - The Indarung I factory has stopped operating since 1999. Although it has the status of a National Cultural Heritage Area and has received international recognition, the historic area has not yet developed as an active center of cultural activity.

This condition is one of the concerns in the I Indarung Factory Symposium entitled The Future of I Indarung Factory Cultural Heritage at Wisma Indarung, PT Semen Padang, Sunday, June 21.

The symposium initiated by the Indarung Heritage Society discussed the steps for the rescue, preservation, and utilization of the Indarung I area. The forum also highlighted efforts to stop the theft of assets and physical destruction that still occur in the historic factory area.

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon who attended as a keynote speaker emphasized that Pabrik Indarung I is not just an old building left over from industry. The factory, which was established in 1910, has an important historical value because it is part of Indonesia's industrialization journey long before independence.

According to Fadli, the area of about five hectares has great potential to be developed into a cultural public space, art space, and a center for cultural expression.

"We continue to register national cultural heritage so that it can continue to be used for the benefit of the community. Whether downstream for cultural economic interests, creative economy, tourism, towards cultural and creative industries and cultural and creative economy," said Fadli.

He also initiated the possibility of building an amphitheater and holding an international-level Indarung Biennale. This activity can be a venue for exhibitions of fine art, sculpture, art installations, and various other cultural expressions.

Fadli considered collaboration to be the key to reviving the area. Therefore, he opened the opportunity for cooperation between the Ministry of Culture, PT Semen Padang, and Danantara Trust Fund through a government-private partnership scheme.

Chairman of the Indarung Heritage Society, M. Aidil Usman, said his party had prepared a roadmap for the development of Indarung I for the next 10 years. The document will be presented to the Ministry of Culture as a reference for the development of the area.

Meanwhile, the President Director of PT Semen Padang, Pri Gustari Akbar, hopes that the Indarung I Factory can become an example of managing modern industrial heritage without losing its historical value and authenticity.

The Indarung I factory operated for 89 years before it stopped in 1999. In addition to being designated as a National Cultural Heritage Area, this site has also received recognition as a Memory of the World Asia-Pacific.

The government and various parties are now encouraging the strengthening of protection as well as the utilization of the area so that it is not only maintained as a historical site, but also lives as a cultural public space that benefits the community.

Fadli hopes that the results of the symposium will not stop at the level of ideas.

"We hope that the results of this symposium will be concrete. Maybe we can also support revitalization in several places from Semen Padang, so that this year we can see the face or form of its use," he said.