'Regular visitors are students, foreign tourists'<\/p>\n
Innovative programs have been launched by the Jakarta Historical
\nMuseum, or Fatahillah Museum, in West Jakarta to lure more
\nvisitors. The Puppet Museum and the Maritime Museum plan to
\nfollow suit next year. The Jakarta Post asked some museum
\nvisitors what they thought of the programs and of the city's
\nmuseums in general.<\/p>\n
Rina, 24, is a student at Trisakti University in West Jakarta.
\nShe lives in Tomang, West Jakarta, with her family:<\/p>\n
I visit museums to collect information for assignments given
\nby my lecturers.<\/p>\n
But basically I'm keen on museums because we can learn about
\nthe past and its impact on modern-day life.<\/p>\n
Visiting museums teaches me so much more than a reading
\ntextbook does.<\/p>\n
I actually prefer museums than shopping centers.<\/p>\n
I think my family's interest in museums led me to also love
\nmuseums. Besides, visiting a museum helps my younger brother
\nbroad his knowledge too.<\/p>\n
However, not many people seem interested and there appears to
\nbe a real lack of public enthusiasm in museums.<\/p>\n
Ibrahim, 35, works in Cijantung, East Jakarta, and lives in
\nKebon Jeruk, West Jakarta, with his wife and two children:<\/p>\n
In all honestly it was because of my eldest son, who is in
\nthird grade at elementary school, that I first went to a museum.<\/p>\n
I offered to take him to the museum when I was unable to
\nanswer his questions about the truth behind the treachery of the
\nIndonesian Communist Party (PKI) after watching footage on
\ntelevision. Since then we have spent most of our leisure time at
\nmuseums.<\/p>\n
Visiting a museum is an effective way of learning. It's useful
\nfor parents to help with their children's education. I learn a
\nlot and I can anticipate their questions. Above all, my children
\nalso learn many things.<\/p>\n
I regret that many museums in the city are not well
\nmaintained, though I understand it is due to financial
\nconstraints.<\/p>\n
Most visitors usually go through the museum without a tour
\nguide to explain the artifacts or their history to them.<\/p>\n
Worse still, I don't believe society realizes that museums can
\nbe an effective learning tool.<\/p>\n
Muchtar, 39, is a Fatahillah Museum worker and soft drink
\nseller. He lives in Kali Deres, West Jakarta, with friends:<\/p>\n
It is important to know and learn how our late heroes fought
\nfor the freedom of the country. Textbook learning alone is not
\nenough.<\/p>\n
In a museum, we can learn many things about our history. I
\nfeel sad whenever I see the poor condition of the artifacts and
\nreplicas.<\/p>\n
When I was assigned to maintain the basement dungeons in the
\nmuseum, I always felt upset during the daily clean up of the
\nplace. I can't imagine a prisoner being submerged in water up to
\nthe neck.<\/p>\n
Students with history assignments are the only regular
\nvisitors, and foreign tourists who are genuinely interested in
\nour history. Youths and other city residents rarely visit the
\nmuseum.<\/p>\n
However, I'm happy to see the improvements to the museum. It
\nshows that the curator cares much about it.<\/p>\n
Now it's very clean and more attractive compared to the first
\ntime I worked here seven years ago.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/regular-visitors-are-students-foreign-tourists-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }