Ministry Of Culture Supports Jepara To Lift Reference To World Level

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon supports efforts to lift Jepara carvings to world fatigue. (IST)

JAKARTA - So far, Jepara carvings are considered mere handicrafts. In fact, if there is Jepara artwork, that's interesting," said Culture Minister Fadli Zon.

This statement was made by Fadli when he received the Regent of Jepara Witiarso Utomo at the Ministry of Culture Building, Jakarta, October 14, 2025. The meeting discussed strategic collaboration to raise the art of Jepara from traditional handicrafts to high-value works of art, as well as strengthen the narrative of Jepara figures such as Ratu Kalinyamat and RA Kartini.

The Regent of Witiarso proposed an exhibition of Twisted Jepara Cross-Earths' at the National Gallery in 2026, featuring classic to modern works. We want to appoint the work of the former maestro to be seen as a work of fine arts, not just crafts," he said.

Fadli welcomed the idea. He emphasized the importance of strict curation, regeneration of artists, and historical narrative so that Jepara culture can compete at the global level.

The exhibition will also feature historical artifacts, documentation of the ukir maestro, as well as cultural research with historians. The Jepara team has obtained an artifact loan from the Sonobudoyo Museum and the Ranggawarsita Museum, including the relics of RA Kartini and the Mantingan carving panel of the Queen Kalinyamat era.

The holding of exhibitions at the National Gallery is fully determined by the curator. However, I am ready to submit this proposal to the curatorial board because its substance is relevant to national cultural conservation missions," said Fadli.

On the same occasion, Fadli opened the opportunity for the production of a feature film about Ratu Kalinyamat. We want to encourage a biopic of national figures, but the key is in the scenario. Want a great actor and director to be good, if the scenario is lacking, the whole film will have an effect. So, we are building a national script bank, and the competition has opened this month," he said.

The Kartini Museum in Jepara is also nominated for the Anugerah Museum which will be announced on October 21. In addition, Fadli revealed plans for joint nomination cooperation between Indonesia and Bosnia to encourage international recognition of Jepara carvings.

Also attending the meeting of Deputy Minister of Culture Giring Ganesha and a number of ministry officials. Menbud Fadli closed the meeting by emphasizing, "The Ministry of Culture will continue to be open to regional initiatives and ready to support the preservation of community-based culture."