Ministry Of Education And Culture: Three Cultural Citizens Achieve Honorary Signs From The President

President Jokowi gave honorary titles to three Indonesian Cultural Citizens through the AKI program in 2023 at the State Palace, Jakarta, Monday 14 August 2023. (ANTARA/HO-Kemendikbudristek)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) stated that three Indonesian Cultural Citizens won honorary titles from President Jokowi through the 2023 Indonesian Cultural Award (AKI) program.

These three cultural tourists, namely (late.) Tjokorda Gde Agung Sukawati and (late.) Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Haryo Djjojokusumo who received the honorary title of Parama Dharma Cultural Star, and (late.) Ki Mohamad Amir Sutaarga who received the honorary title Bintang Jasa Nararya.

"On Monday (14 August) at the State Palace, Jakarta, President Joko Widodo immediately pinned the honorary title through his respective heirs," said Director General of Culture at the Ministry of Education and Culture, Hilmar Farid in Jakarta, Tuesday, August 15, quoted by Antara.

Tjokorda Gde Agung Sukawati is a Balinese cultural observer who has succeeded in cultural diplomacy and has become a pioneer in the development of tourism rooted in arts and culture in Bali known as cultural and community-based tourism.

One of his dedication and integrity in this diplomatic effort was Tjokorda Gde Agung Sukawati who succeeded in delivering the form of collaboration between artists in Ubud and its surroundings with a number of academics and foreign artists.

This makes Ubud known as The International Central of Art which is sustainable until the honorary title of President Joko Widodo is pinned through his heir, Tjokorda Gde Putra AA Sukawati.

Furthermore, Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Haryo Djjojokusumo is the founder of the Indonesian Karawitan Arts Academy (ASKI) or the Surakarta Indonesian Art Institute (ISI).

He is also an important figure in the process of merging all private universities throughout Surakarta into the Joint University of Surakarta (UGS) which is now the Sebelas Maret Surakarta University (UNS).

The honorary title from President Joko Widodo to Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Haryo Djojokusumo was pinned through his heir, namely BRA. Fatimah Retno Hapsari.

The last recipient, Mohammad Amir Sutaarga, is a museum expert who provides an important basis for Indonesian museums and the founder of the construction basis.

He is also the pioneer of the development of Museuman Science and the pioneer of Museology Education in Indonesia until his honorary title is pinned through the heirs, namely Siti Chamsiah Sutaarga.

Hilmar said that since 2012 he has consistently expressed his appreciation to figures who have contributed and contributed to efforts to accelerate Indonesian culture.

Through AKI, continued Hilmar, the government took a position to continue with cultural heroes in the work of advancing culture.

According to him, through this program, it is hoped that the cultural ecosystem can more surface so that more parties will intervene to advance Indonesian culture.

"Thus, the aspiration to become a cultural superpower can be realized," he said.

In addition to proposing an honorary title from the President, in AKI 2023, the Ministry of Education and Culture awarded a number of award categories to be awarded by the Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Anwar Makarim.

The categories are the category of Preservation, Pioneer and Newcomer, Maestro of Traditional Arts, Children and Youth, Media, Foreign Institutions and Individuals, Regional Governments, and Indigenous Peoples.

The awarding of all MMR recipients will be held in November 2023 in Jakarta.