Through Puppet Stories, Sandi Uno Asks Millennial Dalang To Promote COVID-19 Prokes

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno invites artists in Surakarta, especially the puppeteers, to give messages to the public. Photo: doc. Among)

JAKARTA - The role of the dalang in the traditional art of wayang is considered quite effective in disseminating government programs. This prompted the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, to invite artists in the city of Surakarta, especially the puppeteers, to give a message to the public to continue to apply health protocols (prokes) strictly and disciplined through wayang stories.

"Please support the puppeteers, especially the millennial puppeteers, to be able to include messages for the public to continue to comply with the implementation of health protocols. Puppet as an art, has also long been a tool to convey information," said Sandi during an activity in Surakarta City. , as stated in a press statement received by Antara in Jakarta, Saturday, October 9.

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) will seek to provide support for art actors in an effort to revive tourism and the creative economy.

Among other things, by presenting various activities that are coordinated with the local government, as well as re-skilling and up-skilling (capacity building) of creative and creative actors in accordance with the challenges and needs in the post-COVID-19 era. With that, it is hoped that in the future the activities of the puppet industry community will soon rise.

Menparekraf also said that he would make a puppet show at the end of this year. The puppet show is said to have a high multiplier effect because many actors are involved in one performance.

"We will try the title before the end of the year at the Kemenparekraf office with a hybrid pattern (online and offline)," said Sandi.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Surakarta Gibran Rakabuming Raka revealed that the city of Solo had gone down to the Level 2 Implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM).

However, he continued, this will take time, especially since the budget in 2021 has been diverted for handling COVID-19. He invited the public to continue to be disciplined in implementing health protocols so that the COVID-19 pandemic condition could be maintained properly.

"The budget for 2022 is being discussed at the Banggar (Budget Agency), and we have included event activities. But we are sure we don't have to wait for next year, by the end of the year we will be able to rise," said Gibran.

On the same occasion, Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno and Mayor Gibran Rakabuming handed over food assistance to a number of representatives of artists who were supported by various parties. Namely Home Ready to Work, Accenture, Alfamart, Kitabisa, CordelaHotel, Alfaland, and Bank BCA.