Danantara Prepares Assets for Three New Museums in Jakarta, Bandung, and Semarang

The memorandum of understanding on strengthening the cultural development ecosystem was signed by Minister of Culture Fadli Zon and Head of the BPI Implementation Agency Danantara Rosan Perkasa Roeslani in Jakarta, Monday, July 13. (IST)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Culture and BPI Danantara are preparing the use of assets to build three new museums. The project includes the Indonesian Film Museum in Jakarta, the Indonesian Music Museum in Bandung, and the Indonesian Photography Museum in Semarang.

The plan is part of a memorandum of understanding to strengthen the cultural development ecosystem signed by Minister of Culture Fadli Zon and Head of the BPI Implementation Agency Danantara Rosan Perkasa Roeslani in Jakarta, Monday, July 13.

"We hope that in the near future we can establish at least three museums through the utilization of assets owned by Danantara," said Fadli.

The cooperation is valid for five years and covers SOEs and companies under the direct and indirect control of Danantara. Its implementation will be regulated in more detail through a cooperation agreement.

Fadli said that the collaboration between the two institutions had actually been running before the memorandum of understanding was signed. Andantara previously supported the revitalization of the National Museum after the fire, the construction of a museum library, and Indonesia's participation in the Venice Biennale after a seven-year vacuum.

Indonesia currently has around 516 museums. However, according to Fadli, the number of museums that meet international standards is still limited.

The government also wants to improve the quality of regional museums so that they are not only a place to store collections, but are able to attract visitors and support tourism.

Cooperation with Danantara includes the protection, development, and utilization of culture that has social and economic value. Other areas include national and international partnerships, human resource development, digitalization of culture, utilization of technology, and data exchange.

The Ministry of Culture has also accelerated the designation of national cultural sites and the registration of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Currently, Indonesia has 2,727 Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Around 20 percent of them are local culinary and food. Fadli assessed that this group has a great opportunity to be developed as a source of cultural economy.

Rosan said culture was a strategic asset that must be maintained and developed. He emphasized that cooperation should not stop as an administrative document.

"This memorandum of understanding will be realized in various real programs through the collaboration of the two institutions," said Rosan.