Culture Ministry and Komdigi push for digitally-driven national cultural ecosystem

The Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) are synergising to build a national digital ecosystem rooted in Indonesian cultural values. Minister of Culture Fadli Zon stated that digital transformation must be utilised as an instrument to strengthen and advance Indonesian culture. “Culture and Komdigi have a very close relationship; culture itself has a broad spectrum with ten Objects of Cultural Advancement. In the midst of world civilisation, digital intervention is now necessary,” Fadli Zon said in an official statement received on Wednesday. He also stressed the importance of regulation and governance of artificial intelligence to encourage creativity without threatening the sustainability of the cultural ecosystem and creative industries. The Ministry of Culture, he continued, is carrying out various digital innovations, including a digital video content competition about museums and cultural heritage, a folklore gala, letters to heroes, museum digitalisation with immersive technology, video mapping, and interactive screens, as well as the development of the Media Arts Community Festival (FKSM) which combines art with digital technology. Through cross-ministerial synergy, technology not only drives innovation and economic growth but also serves as a means to strengthen cultural identity amidst dynamic developments. Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid welcomed the strengthened cooperation between the two ministries. She noted that digitalisation and culture are complementary aspects in building a society with character. Through the concept of ‘Connected, Growing, Protected’, Komdigi is pushing for digital transformation that not only enhances connectivity and digital economic growth but also safeguards character and cultural values and benefits the community. The two ministries also highlighted several strategic collaboration opportunities, including the formulation of AI regulations that favour the protection of artists’ works, strengthening cultural promotion through digital media, protecting cultural data, utilising digital platforms to expand public access to culture, and developing cultural programmes and activations as part of the implementation of the PP TUNAS regulation.