Culture Minister Highlights Importance of Exhibition Layout at Medan's 1945 Struggle Building Museum

Jakarta — Culture Minister Fadli Zon has stated that improvements to the presentation of information and exhibition layout at the 1945 Struggle Building Museum in Medan can be enhanced to attract younger generations.

“Going forward, we will enhance this further, especially in terms of lighting, exhibition design, and the use of digital technology to make the visitor experience more immersive,” Fadli said when reached for comment from Jakarta on Monday.

During his working visit, Fadli also highlighted the importance of the numismatic collection displayed at the museum as a marker of a nation’s historical journey. He noted that currency and stamps represent important symbols of national identity, particularly during the early independence period.

The existence of such collections not only demonstrates the economic dynamics of the past but also illustrates cultural encounters involving various communities, including plantation workers brought from Java. The museum specifically focuses on the history of plantation agriculture and knowledge about plantation crops and products.

The Culture Minister added that these historical traces also demonstrate how the natural wealth of the Indonesian archipelago once supported the prosperity of colonial powers at that time. Through the presentation of collections and historical narratives, the museum can serve as both a space for reflection and learning for the public.

“Here we can see how plantation history developed since the economic liberalisation period of 1870. Various commodities such as sugar cane, tobacco, and other plantation crops became flagship products exported to various regions of the world, particularly to Europe,” he explained.

The Culture Minister’s visit forms part of the government’s commitment to continue strengthening museums as living, inclusive cultural spaces capable of delivering meaningful learning experiences for the broader society. Through the strengthening of exhibition design, the use of technology, and the enrichment of historical narratives, the Culture Ministry encourages museums not merely to serve as repositories of collections but also as active public spaces that build historical and cultural awareness among the nation.