Indonesia-Belarus Sign Cultural Cooperation, Artists to Museums to Be Involved

The agreement was signed by the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia Fadli Zon and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Maxim Ryzhenkov. (IST)

JAKARTA - Indonesia and Belarus strengthen relations through the cultural channel. Both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cultural cooperation at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (2/7).

The agreement was signed by the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia Fadli Zon and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Maxim Ryzhenkov. The signing took place in the context of the state visit of the President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko to Indonesia and was witnessed by President Prabowo Subianto.

The MSP is the basis for cooperation in art, museums, film, theater, cultural heritage, and the exchange of cultural actors of the two countries.

Fadli said this cooperation is part of strengthening Indonesian cultural diplomacy on the international stage.

"Culture is a source of Indonesia's soft power that is able to build trust, strengthen friendship, and open up mutually beneficial cooperation with various countries," said Fadli.

According to Fadli, cooperation between Indonesia and Belarus should not stop as an official document. The agreement must be translated into programs involving artists, cultural workers, museums, art institutions, academics, and creative communities.

"Through this cooperation, we want to bring together artists, cultural workers, museums, art institutions, academics, and creative communities of the two countries to learn, work, and innovate together," he said.

The scope of cooperation includes the development of networks of performing arts institutions, theaters, film, museums, and artist organizations. Both countries also open opportunities for museum exhibition exchanges, participation in international film festivals, workshops, residencies, as well as the protection and restoration of historical and cultural heritage.

In addition, Indonesia and Belarus will explore cooperation in the fields of folklore, fine arts, traditional dance, traditional music, handicrafts, and other cultural fields that are agreed upon together.

To oversee the implementation of cooperation, the two countries will form a Joint Working Group. This group is tasked with facilitating, monitoring, evaluating, and drafting concrete work programs.

The MSP is valid for five years from the signing and can be automatically extended based on the agreement of both parties.

For Indonesia, this agreement is one way to expand cultural influence abroad. Cultural diplomacy is not only about exhibitions or performances, but also opens up direct cooperation for art practitioners, creative communities, and cultural institutions.