Deputy Minister of Creative Economy: Aniwayang Proof That Traditional Works Can Reach the Global Stage
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf) Irene Umar stated that wayang performance art is not merely entertainment, but also a tool for cultural diplomacy that can be taken anywhere and holds extraordinary economic value.
In her statement received and confirmed in Jakarta on Sunday (26/4), the wayang performance featuring animated characters (aniwayang) represents a creative approach relevant across generations in the performance.
“What Aniwayang is doing shows that creative works based on tradition can penetrate the international stage, having already been appreciated in Japan and Korea, and is set to head to Germany,” said Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar.
She conveyed this during the “Aniwayang Live Desa Timun: Ayo Ke Museum” event on Saturday (25/4) in Jakarta.
The Aniwayang performance successfully fused traditional arts with relevant storytelling, animated characters, and interactive experiences for children and families.
Furthermore, Deputy Minister Irene stressed the urgency of public spaces like museums that can support the creative economy ecosystem to thrive. According to her, the National Museum is now not only a place for education but also a space for creative expression that is a source of pride.
“We should be proud because museums in Indonesia are increasingly developing into attractive creative spaces,” said Irene Umar.
According to her, this opens up great opportunities for creative economy warriors to collaborate and create, while providing a closer and more enjoyable cultural experience for the public.
“Thank you to the National Museum for providing this cool space for the Aniwayang event today,” added the Deputy Minister of Creative Economy.
The “Aniwayang Live Desa Timun: Ayo Ke Museum” event is part of the series of activities for the 248th anniversary of the National Museum of Indonesia. This activity is also designed as an invitation for families to make the museum a fun learning space to build a cultured generation.
In its series of events, Aniwayang Studio featured several activities such as watching together the wayang animation adventure to the National Museum, and interactive sessions introducing five puppeteers and five professional voice actors involved behind the scenes.
The collaboration between the government, creative economy warriors like Aniwayang, and cultural spaces at the Museum is also a follow-up to the audience on 17 December 2025 regarding the Ministry of Creative Economy’s desire for Aniwayang’s expansion to broaden, so that local intellectual property continues to be recognised.
Cross-sector collaboration simultaneously strengthens Indonesia’s position as a country with diverse cultural wealth that can be processed into a new engine of national economic strength.