Going Digital: Randai Art Studio Strengthens Minangkabau Cultural Preservation
The Antabung Indah Randai Art Studio in Nagari Sisawah, Sijunjung Regency, West Sumatra, is now utilising digital technology to preserve and promote Minangkabau culture. The effort was carried out through a Community Partnership Empowerment Programme (PKM) implemented by a team from Universitas PGRI Sumatera Barat.
The programme, involving 15 studio members, aims to improve digital media management skills, strengthen cultural branding, and expand the promotion of Randai art through a website and social media. Previously, the studio’s promotional activities were conducted conventionally, limiting the reach of information about its cultural activities to the wider public.
In a statement on Tuesday, the head of the Universitas PGRI Sumatera Barat community service team, Neffi Sulkaisi, said that utilising digital technology is a necessity for cultural communities to survive and develop amidst changing public behaviour. “The Antabung Indah Randai Art Studio has always had great cultural potential but lacked adequate promotional media. Through this programme, we helped the studio utilise a website and social media so that Randai culture becomes more widely known, especially among the younger generation,” Neffi explained.
Neffi, who is also a lecturer in the Entrepreneurship Study Programme at the university’s Faculty of Economics and Business, added that the programme not only focuses on cultural promotion but also builds the members’ capacity to manage digital content independently, ensuring sustainability after the programme concludes.
The manager of the Antabung Indah Randai Art Studio, Radi Alfian Budiman, acknowledged the significant benefits of the programme. Members who previously did not understand digital media management are now able to create promotional content and manage social media in a more structured way. “We have been greatly helped. Previously, the studio’s activities were only known by the local community. Now we have a website, a mobile application, and social media that can be used to introduce Randai to a wider audience,” he said. He added that the presence of digital platforms also opens opportunities for the younger generation to become more involved in cultural preservation activities.
The programme’s results show an improvement in members’ abilities to manage social media, create cultural content, and utilise technology as a promotional tool. In addition to producing an official website and active social media accounts, the programme has encouraged youth participation in documenting and introducing Randai art to the public.
Looking ahead, Universitas PGRI Sumatera Barat and the Antabung Indah Randai Art Studio plan to develop a Digital Randai School as a follow-up programme focusing on the regeneration of artists and technology-based documentation of cultural knowledge.
Neffi Sulkaisi expressed appreciation to all parties who supported the programme’s implementation. He noted that the success of the activity was due to support from the Directorate of Research and Community Service at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology through the Community Partnership Empowerment Programme, as well as cooperation with Universitas PGRI Sumatera Barat, the Nagari Sisawah government, and the Antabung Indah Randai Art Studio, which actively participated in every stage of the activity. This support is an important asset in realising the preservation of local culture that is adaptive to technological developments and the needs of today’s generation.