Mapping the Cultural Heritage Scene in a Decentralised Indonesia: Between the State and Local Communities

INDONESIA STUDIES PROGRAMME SEMINAR

About the Seminar

Indonesia has abundant cultural wealth which is potentially used to reinforce its national identity and to promote its creative economy. However, for many years, the country has not been able to maximize the benefits of its rich cultural treasures. The lack of integrated approaches to manage its rich cultures was often cited as the major obstacle. The enactment of Law No. 5/2017 on the Advancement of Culture, has provided a legal basis for the development of a more integrated cultural promotion program starting from the district up to the national level. The program, which is supported by local stakeholders, has three important components, namely compiling regional cultural principles from each district/city, holding “Indonesiana” festivals, as well as the National Culture Week competition. These activities are aimed at fostering appreciation of cultural diversity and making culture as part the national development.

This seminar examines challenges on how to strengthen community’s works to promote their cultural heritage. It looks at the role of central and local governments, especially the Directorate General of Culture. The latter has initiated a Cultural Endowment Fund to help in fostering the community’s cultural works initiatives in a systematic, equitable and sustainable manner.

About the Speaker

Hilmar Farid is Indonesia’s Director General of Culture. Dr Farid was born in 1968 in Bonn, Germany. He graduated from the History Department, the University of Indonesia in 1993. He holds a PhD degree in cultural studies from the National University of Singapore (NUS). He has taught at the Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ) in 1995-1999 and 2004-present. In 1993, with some artists, writers, and intellectuals, he established the Culture Network (Jaringan Kerja Budaya). In 2003, together with some historians and activists, he founded the Institute of Social History. Dr Farid has been actively involved in Indonesian politics since 2012. He established networks of volunteers that helped Mr Joko Widodo win the Jakarta gubernatorial election in 2012, and then the presidential elections in 2014 and 2019.

Registration

For registration, please click here. Registration closes on 20 August 2019.