Cafe spruces up Jakarta museum<\/p>\n
By Edith Hartanto<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta History Museum has made the bold
\nleap of opening a cafe in the hope of drawing more visitors.<\/p>\n
Kafe Museum, which opened in the west wing of the museum
\nbuilding on Thursday, is a first for the country in a concept
\nthat has proven successful in many ancient European cities.<\/p>\n
The cafe at the Louvre in Paris is one of three places upon
\nwhich Kafe Museum was modeled, according to Haswidi Taufik, the
\nhead of Jakarta's Museum and Renovation Agency.<\/p>\n
\"We want Kafe Museum to have the taste of Indonesia and be a
\nbit of European niche,\" Haswidi said of the cafe's Indonesian and
\nEuropean decor and cuisine.<\/p>\n
The cafe is managed by PT Markindo Citra Pesona, a private
\ncompany, but the concept had the full support of the city
\nadministration. No less than Governor Surjadi Soedirdja opened
\nthe cafe.<\/p>\n
If the museum's rich collection of artifacts on the capital is
\nnot enough to lure visitors, the cafe comes with a library with a
\ncollection of more than 2,000 books, and a chamber music ensemble
\nplaying keroncong traditional music or classical tunes.<\/p>\n
Twilight Orchestra provided music on opening day.<\/p>\n
Haswidi said Museum Sejarah and the other two museums within
\nTaman Fatahillah -- the fine arts and wayang (puppet)
\ninstitutions -- only draw some 1,000 visitors a year.<\/p>\n
\"This is appalling,\" he said, underscoring that the public's
\ngeneral attitude toward museums was as a place to store
\nartifacts.<\/p>\n
\"I hope this cafe will wake people up to the fact that Jakarta
\nhas a lot to offer,\" Haswidi said. \"This cafe will bring new
\nblood to the lives of museums in Jakarta.\"<\/p>\n
If the concept proves successful, cafes may be opened at the
\nmaritime and textile museums.<\/p>\n
He admitted that the public's perception of museums as
\nwarehouses was because many museums in Jakarta lacked an artistic
\ntouch.<\/p>\n
The administration has been trying to improve the museums with
\nits limited funds, he said.<\/p>\n
Kafe Museum's interior combines Indonesian ethnic and 18th
\ncentury European style.<\/p>\n
The gothic ceiling and pillars complement the dozens of ikat
\ntraditional woven cloths from Irian Jaya, East Timor, Central
\nJava, West Sumatra and Madura.<\/p>\n
Director of Markindo Citra Pesona Linaras Oceania said
\nconstructing an antique cafe at an investment of Rp 1.4 billion
\n(US$500,000) was a challenge because she could not alter the
\nbuilding's structure.<\/p>\n
The walls are fragile because of salt intrusion, the doors are
\nmade of oak and the windows from carved mahogany woods and
\nstained glass.<\/p>\n
\"It was a very complicated process. We had to put board and
\nwood panels to cover the original walls,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The cafe, which features a small gift shop, has 120 seats
\ninside and 300 others in the garden adjacent to the museum.<\/p>\n
The library, on the second floor of the cafe, has books on
\nart, history, culture and tourism.<\/p>\n
The cafe's hours are from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m, but it could remain
\nopen until midnight for special occasions.<\/p>\n
\"Visitors to the museum are visitors of the cafe. We only
\ncharge them for food and services,\" Linaras said.<\/p>\n
The cafe received ringing endorsements from those attending
\nthe opening.<\/p>\n
Governor Surjadi praised the museum and renovation agency for
\nthe innovative concept to spruce up the museum. \"I hope this will
\nbring Jakarta closer to becoming a service city,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Noted businessman James T. Riyadi, art lover Pia Alisjahbana
\nand critic Amir Sidharta were among the VIPs present.<\/p>\n
Singer Vina Panduwinata, who performed at the opening, said
\nshe was delighted by the cafe.<\/p>\n
\"It is time Jakarta had a museum cafe,\" said the longtime
\nresident of Germany. \"Now we can show everyone that we have
\nhistorical sites and a cafe comparable to those found in Europe.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cafe-spruces-up-jakarta-museum-1447893297",
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