Mataram, NTB (ANTARA) - Mornings in many villages across West Nusa\nTenggara (NTB) start with a flurry of activity. In some areas, the\nrhythmic clacking of weaving looms fills the air, while in others, young\npeople are busy photographing handicrafts for social media\nmarketing.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in the cities, small workspaces are filled with graphic\ndesigners, content creators, and app developers working from their\nlaptops. All of these activities share a common thread: creativity that\nis gradually transforming into an economy.<\/p>\n
In the last few years, the creative economy has been regarded not\nmerely as a complement to the tourism sector but as a new engine of\ngrowth in the region.<\/p>\n
The government has set the Bali-Nusa Tenggara region as an\ninternational-level superhub of tourism and the creative economy in its\nlong-term development plan until 2045.<\/p>\n
Amidst this shift, NTB has reached an interesting turning point.\nWhile it is rich in cultural heritage and local creativity, the region\nis being positioned as a national laboratory for creative economy\npolicy, particularly through the government\u2019s subsidized micro-credit\nprogram People\u2019s Business Credit (KUR) for entrepreneurs in the creative\neconomy sector.<\/p>\n
This momentum raises a vital question: Is NTB truly ready to\nestablish the creative economy as the foundation of its future?<\/p>\n
Power of creation<\/p>\n
Fundamentally, the creative economy relies on one inexhaustible\nresource: human ideas. This sector spans at least 17 subsectors, ranging\nfrom culinary arts, crafts, and fashion to film, music, digital\napplications, and game development.<\/p>\n
In NTB, this potential is evident in various culture-based economic\nactivities.<\/p>\n
Traditional weaving in Lombok and Sumbawa, for instance, serves not\njust as a cultural legacy; it is a main source of income for thousands\nof families.<\/p>\n
In West Sumbawa District, the local government organized a 20-day\ntraining program on weaving motif development to boost product quality\nand competitiveness. The initiative goes beyond technical skills; it\npaves the way for new designs with higher market value.<\/p>\n
Beyond crafts and fashion, the creative economy is also thriving\nthrough various festivals and local product exhibitions. Events like\nKarya Kreatif NTB and the Lombok Sumbawa Tenun Festival serve as prime\nexamples of how cultural promotion can be packaged into an opportunity\nfor small business owners to showcase their products.<\/p>\n
The festival also featured a craft bazaar, performing arts, and\nculinary markets, demonstrating the creative economy\u2019s broad multiplier\neffect, spanning from production to consumption.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, villages are beginning to use culture as a foundation\nfor the creative economy. The establishment of village museums in parts\nof Lombok shows how historical preservation can be integrated with new\neconomic activities.<\/p>\n
Village museums no longer serve as mere places to store artifacts;\nsome have transformed into community hubs where young people turn\ncultural stories into tourism experiences that generate economic\nvalue.<\/p>\n
From traditional tenun (woven fabric) to village museums, and from\ncultural festivals to digital products, the creative economy in NTB\ndemonstrates one vital characteristic: it is rooted in local\nidentity.<\/p>\n
Challenges<\/p>\n
Despite the enormous potential, there are still structural challenges\nthat threaten the growth of NTB\u2019s creative economy sector. One of the\nmost significant ones is access to financing.<\/p>\n
Many creative economy players operate their businesses on a small\nscale with a model that is not yet fully understood by financial\ninstitutions.<\/p>\n
Creative products are created based on ideas, designs, or\nintellectual property, which are difficult to use as collateral under\nthe conventional banking system.<\/p>\n
This is why the government\u2019s decision to make NTB a pilot project in\nthe KUR scheme for the creative economy is a strategic move. The scheme\nopens new possibilities where intellectual property can be factored into\ncredit assessments.<\/p>\n
If this scheme is successful, creative entrepreneurs who previously\nstruggled to access capital could secure hundreds of millions of rupiah\nin financing to scale their businesses.<\/p>\n
However, funding alone is not enough for creative economy players to\ngrow.<\/p>\n
Statistics Indonesia (BPS) notes that the development of the creative\neconomy in Indonesia still faces three major hurdles: limited access to\nfinancing, low human resource capacity, and insufficient digital\ninfrastructure.<\/p>\n
The human resource challenge is a particularly vital issue in regions\nlike NTB. Many creative workers possess strong skills in production but\nhave yet to fully master business management, digital marketing, or\nbrand development.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in the era of the digital economy, having good quality is\nnot enough for products to attract people. They must have a story to\nconvey, strong visuals, and the right marketing strategy to compete in\nthe increasingly open market.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, digital infrastructure also plays a decisive role.\nHigh-speed internet, digital marketing platforms, and access to global\nmarkets are necessary for creative economy players to grow.<\/p>\n
Without the support of a proper digital ecosystem, local creative\npotential will struggle to reach beyond local markets.<\/p>\n
Creative ecosystem<\/p>\n
If the goal is to make the creative economy a pillar of NTB\u2019s\neconomic future, policy approaches can no longer be partial. Developing\na complete creative ecosystem is a must.<\/p>\n
This ecosystem should have at least four primary pillars:<\/p>\n
First is talent. Developing creative human resources must begin with\neducation and training that can meet industry needs. Programs focused on\ndigital talent, design, multimedia, and content production are vital\ninvestments for the younger generation.<\/p>\n
Second is financing. The KUR program for the creative sector must be\npaired with an effective curation system, ensuring that funding is\ndirected toward businesses that truly have growth potential.<\/p>\n
Third is market access. Creative products need a platform<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/weaving-the-future-of-creative-economy-1773553938", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }