Culture Minister states that cultural advancement collaboration is a national asset for the future

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Culture Minister Fadli Zon stated that societal collaboration in advancing culture is an important asset for a nation to maintain its existence in the future. According to him, the advancement of Indonesian culture can only be achieved if the entire society, especially the younger generation, possesses cultural awareness as the foundation of national development. “We can only achieve cultural advancement if we work together, with the awareness that culture is the main strength and asset of the nation going forward,” said Fadli in his statement on Thursday. He conveyed this as a message in his cultural oration when opening the National Children’s Cultural and Works Exhibition organised by Sebelas Maret University (UNS) in Surakarta, Central Java. Discussing Indonesian culture, Fadli opined that the existing culture is not only diverse but also very rich, even worthy of being called megadiversity. This cultural richness encompasses thousands of ethnic groups, hundreds of regional languages, and various cultural expressions that are not limited to the arts, but also include oral traditions, manuscripts, rituals, traditional knowledge, and cuisine. Amid global dynamics, preserving the nation’s culture is urgent because, in addition to being the root of daily life, it can also serve as a diplomatic asset with other countries. According to Fadli, strengthening Indonesian culture must be viewed as a force that cannot be underestimated because it can actually drive the economy even at the global level. Reflecting on other countries that have successfully popularised their culture and used it as material for diplomacy on the global stage, Fadli is convinced that Indonesia can take similar steps. One effort to preserve and strengthen culture in this era is to safeguard it and bring it into the digital space. So that the digitalisation of Indonesian culture does not lose its roots, Fadli conveyed several principles that need to be held together in developing culture in the digital era. First, the importance of digital cultural literacy that is not limited to the ability to use technology, but also understanding the context, ethics, and copyright in cultural representation. Third, strengthening cultural archives and databases that not only store information, but also the context and full meaning of culture as a strategic foundation in the technology era. In addition to delivering the oration, Minister Fadli appreciated the presence of the peak event of the grand reunion series of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UNS as part of the 50th Anniversary of UNS because it focuses on cultural preservation. With the theme “Weaving the Rainbow of Nusantara Culture”, various culture-themed activities were presented, starting from wayang beber tani performances, exhibitions of archives, keris, manuscripts, and museum collections, student cultural arts exhibitions from FIB, to exhibitions of MSMEs from alumni and New Student Entrepreneur (WIBAWA). Fadli assessed that the theme raised reflects the strong commitment of higher education institutions in nurturing and developing culture as an inseparable part of national life.