Jakarta (ANTARA) -
Culture is one of the sectors prioritized by the government for further development, reflecting its potential to contribute positively to Indonesian society.
To advance this agenda, President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka re-established the Ministry of Culture as a concrete step toward strengthening cultural development in Indonesia.
The ministry was re-established on October 20, 2024, under Presidential Decree No. 190 of 2024. Indonesia previously had a dedicated ministry for cultural affairs, established on March 31, 1966, but it was later merged with another ministry.
Currently led by Minister of Culture Fadli Zon and Deputy Minister of Culture Giring Ganesha, the ministry aims to advance culture, maximize its contribution to national development, and promote participatory, transparent, and accountable cultural governance.
Its priorities include safeguarding and preserving cultural heritage, encouraging the participation of indigenous communities and religious groups, and fostering creativity and technology-driven cultural innovation to improve public welfare.
The ministry also seeks to manage cultural diversity to strengthen national unity, promote Indonesian culture as a form of soft power on the global stage, and instill the nation's noble cultural values through education. In addition, it aims to integrate culture into all aspects of national and public life.
Achievements
Protecting Indonesia’s cultural heritage remains a government priority, with 430 cultural heritage sites newly designated for national recognition.
The total number of nationally recognized cultural heritage sites has reached 743. Through initiatives by the Ministry of Culture and active government involvement, Indonesia aims to increase the number to at least 1,750 this year, as the country is home to tens of thousands of potential heritage sites.
Another priority is the revitalization and restoration of museums, aimed at strengthening their preservation functions while transforming them into educational centers, tourist attractions, and drivers of a culture-based economy.
This year, the Ministry of Culture is targeting the revitalization and restoration of at least 200 museums, cultural heritage sites, and palaces to support the development of a culture-based economy.
Physical revitalization work has begun at 13 locations in the Solo Palace complex, with a budget of Rp15 billion (approximately US$830,000).
The government is also partnering with the Danantara Trust Fund Foundation to support the revitalization of the National Museum. The initiative is expected to make museums more appealing to younger generations and provide comfortable spaces for modern, engaging learning experiences.
Well-designed exhibitions are also essential to strengthening museums’ roles in preserving cultural and historical heritage. Through its Museums and Cultural Heritage (MCB) unit, the Ministry of Culture is introducing a Museum Passport featuring stamps as a new attraction for visitors. The initiative offers a distinctive museum experience, particularly for young people who are rediscovering analog activities by collecting physical stamps in books.
Each museum will have its own unique stamp design, adding to the appeal of museum visits.
As part of efforts to restore historical heritage and safeguard the nation’s collective memory, the Ministry of Culture also helped facilitate the return of a fossil collection associated with Dutch researcher Eugene Dubois last year.
The repatriated collection included four significant fossils, including Java Man, or Pithecanthropus erectus, estimated to be around 500,000 years old. The return brought the total collection to more than 28,000 items.
In July, FBI Director Kash Patel also visited Jakarta and handed over eight artifacts from Papua to President Prabowo Subianto, accompanied by Culture Minister Fadli Zon.
In the film sector, the ministry supports the development of Indonesia’s film ecosystem through various initiatives, including facilitating the participation of Indonesian films in international events such as the International Film Festival Rotterdam and the Cannes Film Festival.
Another initiative uses the Indonesia Raya Fund to promote film literacy through the Indonesian Heroism Narrative Film Production program, which highlights Indonesia’s struggle for independence from 1945 to 1950. At least 20 feature-length and short films entered production following the signing of a cooperation agreement.
To preserve Indonesian arts and culture and pass on knowledge directly from masters to younger generations, the Ministry of Culture also runs its flagship Belajar Bareng Maestro (BBM), or Learning with Maestro, program.
The 30-day program is an intensive residency in which participants live with master artists to learn artistic techniques, history, philosophy, and cultural values. It is open to students enrolled at arts colleges and members of the general public.
Participants can choose from a range of art forms, including Lenong Betawi, a traditional Betawi theatrical performance; Sastra Lukis, or literary painting; Bedhaya dance; bamboo craft; and Randai, a traditional theatrical art form from West Sumatra.
In the music sector, the ministry held the Indonesian Music Conference (KMI) in 2025 to identify and discuss industry challenges with musicians and other relevant stakeholders.
The conference is scheduled to return from October 27 to November 1, 2026, to address a range of issues, including royalty management, copyright protection, the use of technology and artificial intelligence, the welfare of music workers, education and talent development, and the sustainability of traditional music.
The government is also strengthening children's music development through the Kita Cinta Lagu Anak (KILA) program, which aims to encourage a new generation of Indonesian children's songwriters and promote the creation of high-quality, educational works.
Launched in 2020, the program seeks to build a sustainable ecosystem for children's music amid a shortage of songs specifically created for young audiences. From June 22 to August 31, 2026, KILA attracted 814 participants. Six finalists were selected for the Children's Songwriting Competition, while 30 were chosen for the Children's Singing Competition. Both competitions are open to children aged 5 to 13.
According to Fadli Zon, the 814 participants demonstrate Indonesian children's interest in and talent for creating and performing songs for young audiences, as well as the potential to develop those abilities further.
Cultural Fund
In April 2026, the government launched a cultural endowment fund, the Dana Indonesia Raya (Indonesia Raya Fund), previously known as the Dana Indonesiana (Indonesiana Fund).
The name change reflects the shift of cultural affairs to the Ministry of Culture, with the focus on advancing the Indonesian culture.
It also aims to strengthen governance, expand program coverage, and improve service quality.
This year, the funds disbursed amount to Rp500 billion (US$27,6 million) out of a total budget of Rp6 trillion (US$332,3 million).
Fadli Zon said these funds will be able to fund cultural actors who meet the established criteria, after selection and assessment by a panel of judges.
These funds will be utilized with a focus on supporting various cultural programs and improving services through the development of an information technology system for a more transparent and accountable registration and reporting process.
The program's scope will also be expanded to four main schemes with a total of 12 activity categories, including strengthening the cultural ecosystem and supporting UNESCO-recognized Indonesian Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Furthermore, the Cultural Preservation Center will be involved as a strategic partner in the regions to support more effective and targeted program implementation.
The program can be accessed by communities and cultural actors, cultural activity producers, and media producers to develop Indonesia's cultural richness through the website danaindonesiaraya.kemenbud.go.id.
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Editor: Primayanti
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