ARTJOG 2026 Committee Addresses Sponsor Controversy Involving Prabowo's Son's Foundation

The Program Director of ARTJOG 2026, Gading Paksi, has responded to the selection of the Didit Hediprasetyo Foundation as a sponsor, an event that triggered criticism and protests from various groups. One protest even took the form of a theatrical performance that was forcibly stopped by security personnel following the opening of ARTJOG at the Jogja National Museum (JNM) on Friday night (19/6).

Gading explained that ARTJOG relies on sponsorship to ensure the festival’s sustainability, noting that the event is not a large-scale corporation with sufficient capital to fund all activities independently. Consequently, ARTJOG submits funding proposals to various corporations every year that show potential for supporting the event.

Gading stated that the committee is aware of the criticisms regarding the involvement of the foundation owned by the son of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. However, he maintained that the foundation’s position is identical to other sponsors providing support for various needs, such as performance stages and exhibition spaces.

Gading emphasised ARTJOG’s commitment to freedom of expression and openness to public criticism. He assured that this controversy would serve as material for internal evaluation, particularly in determining the approach towards potential sponsors for future events. All public responses, including those on social media, will be taken into consideration for future iterations of ARTJOG.

Amidst the ongoing controversy, Gading confirmed that the committee has decided to withdraw the name of the Didit Hediprasetyo Foundation from the official website and event backdrops. This move is intended as a mark of respect for the criticism and feedback provided by the public, a sentiment echoed by ARTJOG CEO, Heri Pemad.

Gading did not elaborate on whether the removal of the name signifies the complete termination of the partnership or merely the withdrawal of the identity from public promotional materials. He noted that a more structured forum would be required to address this to prevent further speculation.

Bambang ‘Toko’ Witjaksson, Head of Curator for ARTJOG 2026, mentioned that based on a mutual agreement, Didit, who was originally scheduled to open the event at JNM, has cancelled his appearance. The organisers respect this decision as a form of public aspiration. As a replacement, the Princess of Yogyakarta, GKR Bendara, will officiate the opening of ARTJOG 2026.

Bambang claimed that Didit does not object to this cancellation or the removal of the foundation’s name from the sponsor list. He further assured that neither Didit nor his foundation has interfered with the artists’ works, noting that many pieces featuring criticism and activism are still on display.

ARTJOG CEO Heri Pemad expressed understanding of the public outcry. He explained that the foundation’s focus is on supporting the art ecosystem, sharing a vision with ARTJOG. However, he acknowledged the importance of responding to the feedback received from fellow art practitioners.

Furthermore, the committee issued an apology regarding allegations of repressive physical force during the dispersal of a protest at the Jogja National Museum on Friday night. Gading Paksi stated that the committee has met with Ayik, the artist who performed the solo protest, and his colleague, Nabila. Ayik was reportedly detained by security personnel during the protest, during which time the alleged physical assault occurred.