Jambi Dekranasda Develops Contemporary Batik Through Training

Jambi (ANTARA) – The Jambi Provincial Regional National Crafts Council (Dekranasda) has teamed up with an oil and gas company in the region to hold contemporary batik training for 28 artisans, as part of efforts to encourage innovation and improve the competitiveness of the local handicrafts sector.

“Many of our batik artisans have so far used traditional motifs, while we hope that young people, especially children, will be interested in wearing our batik. That is why innovation is needed to produce batik that reflects the times,” Jambi Provincial Dekranasda Chair Hesnidar Haris said in Jambi on Tuesday.

The training runs from 3 to 7 November 2026 at the Selaras Pinang Masak People’s Crafts Centre in Mudung Laut sub-district, Pelayangan district, Jambi City.

She said improving batik-making skills was not only about preserving ancestral cultural heritage, but could also directly improve the livelihoods of artisans’ families.

She added that collaboration with businesses was particularly important given Dekranasda’s limitations as a community organisation. She hoped its partnership with PetroChina would continue through other craft and micro, small and medium-sized enterprise empowerment programmes.

“Today, we are lighting fires of hope for the artisans. We hope their kitchens will keep burning, their work will continue to improve, and their family economies will grow,” she said.

PetroChina International Jabung Ltd Community Development Supervisor Ahmad Ramadlan said the training was part of the company’s community development programme and included an instructor brought in from outside the region.

“We are working with Dekranasda and covering all the costs of this training, including bringing in an instructor from outside to provide participants with new knowledge and skills,” he said.

Jambi Provincial Dekranasda Executive Chair Luthpiah said participants would receive five days of theoretical and practical instruction. They would be provided with accommodation, meals, transport costs and a daily allowance.

The 28 participants include six from East Tanjung Jabung Regency, two from West Tanjung Jabung Regency, and 20 representing Jambi City and other regencies in the province.