The Ponorogo Regency Government in East Java and the Blora Regency\nGovernment in Central Java signed a memorandum of understanding on\nFriday afternoon (16 October 2026). The agreement concerns support for\npreserving the Barongan Blora art form, which is being proposed for\nrecognition by UNESCO as Indonesian intangible cultural heritage through\nthe Reog Ponorogo USL extension route.<\/p>\n
The agreement was signed by Ponorogo Acting Regent Lisdyarita and\nBlora Regent Arief Rohman at the Pringgitan of the Ponorogo regent\u2019s\nofficial residence. The Blora delegation included Deputy Regent Sri\nSetyorini, Blora Regional House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Lanova\nCandra Tirtaka, Regional National Crafts Council chair Ainia Shalicah,\nActing Regional Secretary Dasiran and relevant agency officials.\nBarongan Blora artists and practitioners also attended, including\nacademics, craftspeople, barong dancers and members of Bolo Reog\nBlora.<\/p>\n
In his remarks, Blora Regent Arief Rohman said he wanted Barongan\nBlora to be registered and recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural\nheritage in the same cultural family as Reog Ponorogo, so that it would\nnot be claimed by another region.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want Barongan Blora to become one of the UNESCO heritage entries\nthrough the extension route, following Reog Ponorogo. We ask Acting\nRegent Lisdyarita for her support so that we can follow the path of Reog\nPonorogo, which has already been recognised by UNESCO,\u201d Arief said on\nSaturday (17 October 2026).<\/p>\n
\u201cSome time ago, when I visited here, the Acting Regent reminded us\nthat Blora should register its art with UNESCO through an extension of\nReog Ponorogo. We are now taking the necessary steps, before another\nregency with its own barongan tradition gets ahead of us,\u201d Arief\nadded.<\/p>\n
Ponorogo Acting Regent Lisdyarita praised the commitment shown by the\nBlora regent, his team and the Barongan artists, who had travelled to\nPonorogo to seek support for the UNESCO bid.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you to Blora Regency, including its outstanding regent. This\nextension programme is intended to ensure that everything goes smoothly\nas Blora submits its proposal to UNESCO. Ponorogo is ready to help with\nthe process and application, as we did previously. We will share our\nknowledge, including on preserving culture. Hopefully, young people will\nbecome increasingly interested in their own traditions. Blora and\nPonorogo can strengthen cooperation not only in arts and culture, but\nalso in small and medium-sized enterprises and other areas,\u201d said\nLisdyarita, commonly known as Bunda Rita.<\/p>\n
Reog Ponorogo artists, as well as representatives of the Ponorogo\nRegency Government, also expressed support for Barongan Blora\u2019s\ninclusion through an extension of the Reog Ponorogo listing.<\/p>\n
After the signing, Reog Ponorogo and Barongan Blora performances were\nheld in the grounds of the Pringgitan at the regent\u2019s official\nresidence.<\/p>\n
The UNESCO application assistance team overseeing the Barongan Blora\nbid also filmed statements of support from the Ponorogo Regency\nGovernment and Reog artists for the application documents. Filming took\nplace at the Kawula Bantarangin Arts Centre in Sumoroto district, the\nGriya Reyog Tua Siman arts centre, and the Langen Kusuma Ronowijayan\ndance centre in Babadan.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bloras-barongan-seeks-unesco-recognition-and-global-reach-1792209020", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }