The Ministry of Culture Promotes Banyumas Culture to Rise in Class, from Lengger to Film

Fadli Zon berdialog bersama sejumlah budayawan Banyumas di Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta, Minggu, 7 Juni. (IST)

Banyumas has a large cultural capital. From calung, ebeg, lengger, ronggeng, to the traces of national figures. The problem is, this wealth is not enough to be stored as old stories. It must be raised, promoted, and given economic space.

The message emerged in a dialogue between Minister of Culture Fadli Zon and a number of Banyumas cultural figures at the Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta, Sunday, June 7. The dialogue with the theme "Community Space as Part of Cultural Progress" became a forum to hear the ideas of Banyumas cultural actors.

Fadli said Banyumas has many cultural heritages, both in the form of sites and Intangible Cultural Heritage (WBTb), namely living cultural heritage such as traditions, performing arts, local knowledge, and community practices that are passed down from generation to generation.

"There are many cultural expressions from Banyumas. There is a Banyumasan calung, a Banyumasan ebeg, a lengger, to the ronggeng in Ahmad Tohari's novel titled Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk. In fact, the novel has been made into a film, Sang Penari. This proves that Banyumas is a potential area to become a cultural enclave or cultural enclave," said Fadli.

According to Fadli, Banyumas also has an important historical footprint. The region has produced national figures, artists, and cultural figures who can become capital for the development of regional culture.

He gave examples of the Soedirman Museum, R.A.A. Soemitro Kolopaking Poerbonegoro who was a member of BPUPKI, as well as R.M. Margono Djojohadikusumo who was an advisor to the Round Table Conference.

"There are many things to be taken from the heroes of Banyumas," said Fadli.

Fadli also emphasized the importance of cultural downstreaming. This means that culture does not stop as a performance or archive, but is processed into a creative economic force. From the stage, the screen, books, festivals, to creative products that add value to the region.

He is optimistic that the cultural wealth of Banyumas can strengthen the Cultural and Creative Industry (CCI) or the cultural and creative industry. If worked seriously, culture can become a driver of the local economy without losing its traditional roots.

The Madani International Film Festival Board, Hikmat Darmawan, said that films can be an important medium to promote Banyumas culture.

"Cultural transformation is not only about expression, but also related to the development of a culture-based economy," said Hikmat.

Contemporary artist Irawan Karseno believes that film festivals can also be a driver of regional economy. According to him, festivals in big cities can be held for more than a month to give a multiplier effect, namely the downstream impact on the surrounding economy, ranging from accommodation, food and beverage, transportation, to local art activities.

The dialogue was attended by, among others, the Chairman of the General Soedirman University Alumni Association Abdul Kholik, Hikmat Darmawan, Irawan Karseno, film activist S Metron Masdison, KuatBaca.com CEO Jajang Habib, as well as a number of cultural figures, artists, and filmmakers. Fadli was accompanied by Special Staff to the Minister for Cultural Diplomacy and International Relations Annisa Rengganis.

The Ministry of Culture stated that the development of Banyumas culture would be driven through strategic programs, including the transfer of knowledge from maestros to the next generation. The goal is to keep the tradition alive, not just remembered in speeches and event banners.