'Govt must pay attention to museums'

'Govt must pay attention to museums'

Many museums here are lonely, neglected places, attracting few
visitors and sparking very little interest in the country's
history. The Jakarta Post spoke with several people about the
issue.

Nanang, 35, is a history teacher at the Global Jaya school in
Bintaro, Tangerang. He lives nearby with his wife and three
children:

The truth is I'm not interested in visiting museums here even
though I am a history teacher. Sounds weird, right?

This is because there is no attraction from an academic point
of view, as museums here have limited and outdated collections
and information.

If we want to study history, we can access information from
the internet or books. So there is no additional value in going
to museums.

If museums here were livelier and more colorful, they would
attract more visitors.

When I was in Australia, I visited a museum there and I was
able to enjoy the atmosphere. The displays were very well
organized and visitors could learn something.

Here, the collections in museums are just like knickknacks in
somebody's house.

If the government made improving museums a priority, I'm sure
they would become attractive tourist sites. The government must
pay more attention to museums or cooperate with the private
sector to run the museums.

Tedjo, 32, works for an international organization in Central
Jakarta. He lives in Kayu Jati, East Jakarta, with his wife and
daughter:

I used to go to museums in my hometown Surakarta (Central
Java), and I learned a lot from the collections. I loved the
atmosphere.

But when I moved to Jakarta, I lost interest. Trying to get by
forced me to focus only on financial matters. Jakarta is not the
place to learn about culture; it's only good for making money.

I prefer to go to Ancol or somewhere else that is more
entertaining when I have some free time. Museums in the capital
look gloomy and they put people off.

Maybe the government should renovate the museums or relocated
them near places like shopping centers to get more visitors.

I guess I'll have to visit museums again when my daughter
starts school.

Marzuki, 40, lives in Kemanggisan, West Jakarta, with his wife
and two children. He was walking past the National Museum in
Central Jakarta:

I have no idea if I'm interested in visiting museums. I don't
have any reason to visit them.

Most museum buildings were built during the colonial era and
they look dull and uninteresting.

I imagine I'd find nothing inside but antiquities. It would
probably feel like going to a haunted house.

I prefer to go to the zoo. Maybe someday I will have an
interest in visiting a museum.

-- Leo Wahyudi S.