Kementerian Kebudayaan Kembali Hold Program Anugerah Kebudayaan Indonesia 2025: Apresiasi Untuk Pelaku Budaya YANG Berkedikasi

The Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, directly chaired the Minister's Award Assessment Team Preparation Meeting in the context of the Indonesian Cultural Award. (IST)

The Indonesian Ministry of Culture will again hold the 2025 Indonesian Cultural Award (AKI) program, as a form of appreciation to individuals, communities, and institutions that have shown extraordinary dedication and contribution in advancing national culture. The Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, directly chaired the Minister's Award Assessment Team Preparation Meeting in the context of the Indonesian Cultural Award at the Ministry of Culture, Jakarta, Tuesday, September 23, which marked the start of the judging process for 12 categories of this year's AKI award.

Opening the discussion, the Director General of Development, Utilization, and Culture Development, Ahmad Mahendra, submitted a report related to the implementation of the 2025 MMR program. He emphasized that this award is a concrete form of the government's commitment to supporting cultural actors who have been working consistently and highly dedicated to the progress of Indonesian culture.

Director General Ahmad Mahendra also officially announced 12 award categories that will be assessed this year, namely the Maestro of Traditional Arts, Preservation, Pioneer and/or Newer, Foreign and Individual Institutions Foreign, Children, Media, Regional Governments, Museums, Cultural Parks, Indigenous Peoples, Regional Pavilion of Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, and Sastra.

Meanwhile, in his direction, the Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon said that the implementation of the Indonesian Cultural Award was a constitutional mandate, especially Article 32 of the 1945 Constitution, which emphasized that the state was advancing Indonesia's national culture in the midst of world civilization by guaranteeing people's freedom in maintaining and developing cultural values.

"The appreciation of cultural actors is not only about symbolic respect, but also a form of state commitment in maintaining the continuity of cultural heritage from generation to generation," said Menbud Fadli. He emphasized the importance of acceleration in advancing culture, especially since the establishment of the Ministry of Culture as a separate institution that is no longer part of the ministry of education or research.

On this occasion, Menbud Fadli also appreciated the presence and participation of assessors from artists, culturalists, academics, public officials, to media figures. According to him, the diversity of background of the judges or judges will strengthen the credibility of the ongoing selection process.

Menbud Fadli also highlighted the importance of awarding cultural maestros, especially those who have dedicated their lives to traditional arts. Determination of maestros must be done carefully. This is not just an award, but a commitment of a country for life," he said.

Not only that, Menbud Fadli also said that the government was expanding the coverage of awards by adding several new categories such as Museums, Cultural Parks, Media, and Regional Pavilion TMII. He hopes that this award can be a trigger for local governments to be more active in reviving cultural spaces in their area.

Regional bridges in TMII are miniatures of Indonesia. We hope that the regions will be more motivated to improve their physical buildings and revive their cultural activities. Likewise with museums in areas that often have extraordinary collections," said Menbud Fadli.

The 2025 AKI award will be carried out in two stages. The first stage will be held in October 2025, including the categories of Media, Foreign Institutions, Regional Governments, Museums, Cultural Parks, and Regional Pavilion TMII. Meanwhile, the second phase is planned to take place in December 2025, which will award the Maestro category of Traditional Arts, Traditional Society, Preservation, Pioneer and/or Newcomer, Children, and Literature.

The Ministerial Award Assessment Team Preparation Meeting in the framework of AKI 2025 which took place offline and online was attended by the Director General of Cultural and Traditional Protection, Restu Gunawan; Director General of Regional Autonomy of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Akmal Malik; Director of Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ani Nigeriawati; Deputy Chancellor of Bakrie University, Tri Andika; officials within the Ministry of Culture, as well as ranks of the AKI 2025 assessment team.

Closing his remarks, the Minister of Culture invited all elements involved in the selection process to work honestly, objectively, and with full responsibility. Menbud Fadli hopes that the 2025 AKI can expand the meaning of cultural appreciation and become part of a large ecosystem in building a sustainable Cultural and Creative Industry (CCI).

"If we don't appreciate the cultural actors, who else? Let's make this Indonesian Cultural Award a stage for respect and regeneration for our national culture," he concluded.