Government Engages Artists in Formulating Policy for Regional Cultural Advancement
JAKARTA — Efforts to advance Indonesian culture are entering a new phase emphasising two primary dimensions: strengthening policy foundations at the national level and preserving local traditions with economic impact in the regions.
The synergy between artists’ voices in development planning and tangible government support for community festivals has become crucial to sustaining the national cultural ecosystem.
The Ministry of Culture has affirmed that the drafting of Regional Cultural Principal Thoughts Documents (PPKD) must not become mere administrative routine. Annisa Rengganis, Special Staff to the Minister of Culture, characterised artists as those most capable of understanding the “ailments” within the cultural ecosystem. Without their involvement, public policy risks misdiagnosis and lacks relevance to field requirements.
To bridge the gap between arts practitioners and bureaucracy, the Arts Coalition has launched a strategic guidance handbook titled “PDKT sama PPKD: Artist Strategies for Successful Arts Policy Intervention”. This guide aims to empower artists to conduct bottom-up advocacy, ensuring their voices are not lost when cultural issues compete with other sectors in budget planning at regional and national development agencies.
The Sahur-Sahur Festival: Manifestation of Empowered Culture
Practical implementation of participatory cultural preservation is evident in Mempawah Regency, West Kalimantan. The 23rd Sahur-Sahur Festival in 2026 is no longer merely a tradition of rousing residents, but a national asset designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage (WBTB) and included in the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) programme.
West Kalimantan Governor Ria Norsan demonstrated strong commitment by allocating total support of 100 million rupiah for this year’s implementation, with targets to increase assistance to 200 million rupiah in 2027. This decision stems from the festival’s prominence in traditional percussion, which has proven to be a religious tourism magnet capable of driving the economy of small and medium enterprises through the Ramadan Fair.
Synergy Between Tradition and Modernisation
Mempawah Regent Erlina appreciated national recognition of the Sahur-Sahur tradition following a lengthy nomination process. For her, the greatest challenge is engaging younger generations to ensure this local wisdom endures amid modernisation currents.
Overall, the connection between inclusive PPKD policy guidance and financial support for regional festivals such as in Mempawah reflects a broader vision of national cultural development. When artists are given space to intervene in policymaking and local traditions are afforded appropriate platforms, Indonesian culture will not only survive as an identity but grow into a driving force for harmonious societal prosperity.