Gekrafs Launches Asta Karya, Opening Access to Financing and Fair Wages for Creative Workers
Jakarta — The National Creative Economy Movement (Gekrafs) has launched eight flagship programmes entitled Asta Karya during its 2026 National Work Conference (Rakernas). The programmes are designed to strengthen the creative economy ecosystem, ranging from intellectual property-based financing to creative worker wage standards.
Gekrafs Rakernas was held on 6–7 March 2026 at the Nusantara Ballroom, NT Tower, Jakarta, and produced several strategic recommendations for developing Indonesia’s creative industries.
Gekrafs Chairman Kawendra Lukistian said Asta Karya was developed to promote more structured and sustainable creative economy growth. The programmes encompass various important aspects, including financing access, intellectual property protection, and strengthening collaborative creative infrastructure in the regions.
“Asta Karya is Gekrafs’ flagship programme. It includes intellectual property financing, intellectual property protection, access to capital, regional creative hubs, and how we can push for minimum wages for creative economy workers when they are creating,” said Kawendra in a press statement on Monday (9 March 2026).
Kawendra argued that appreciation standards for creative economy professionals need to be strengthened so that creative workers no longer receive inadequate compensation. “They should truly be appreciated, not just superficially, but with genuine appreciation for creative economy professionals,” he said.
Entering its seventh year, Gekrafs has recorded nearly 40,000 members across Indonesia. Kawendra emphasised the organisation does not merely want to chase membership numbers, but rather ensure its presence provides tangible benefits for creative economy professionals.
“Gekrafs must be an organisation that provides benefits, not just a symbolic organisation, but one that spreads usefulness for creative economy professionals,” said Kawendra.
Gekrafs networks have now been established across all provinces and in nearly 300 regencies and municipalities in Indonesia. The organisation also has representatives in 12 countries and is preparing expansion into Russia, China, South Africa, and Azerbaijan.
Rakernas Committee Chairman Tommy William Tampubolon said that strengthening the organisation’s structure at home and abroad is important to expand market access for Indonesian creative professionals.
The eight programmes in Asta Karya include CEFA for intellectual property-based financing access, DIPPLE for digital licence protection, GANDI for gastronomy diplomacy, YOTEM for youth talent development including persons with disabilities, ARTPAY for art worker compensation standards, DIMAP for digital market literacy, RECHUB for strengthening regional creative collaboration centres, and GLOBE for global diaspora networks.
Gekrafs Board of Governors Chairman Sandiaga Uno said the creative economy must become a pillar of Indonesia’s future economy. According to Sandiaga, strengthening innovation is necessary so that national creative products can compete in global markets whilst preserving local cultural identity.