Ministry of Culture Collaborates with BPS to Strengthen Data-Based Cultural Advancement
The Ministry of Culture (Kemenbud) continues to strengthen data-based cultural advancement through synergy with the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS). This collaboration is directed towards promoting culture as an engine of growth that contributes to the national economy.
Alongside the implementation of the 2026 Economic Census from April to August, Culture Minister Fadli Zon appreciated BPS’s support in strengthening the national cultural data base. He emphasised that since its establishment, Kemenbud has focused cultural advancement comprehensively on ten Objects of Cultural Advancement, not limited to the arts alone.
“Culture is often correlated with arts, whereas its scope is far broader. Indonesia possesses extraordinary diversity that can be called megadiversity, reflected in various cultural expressions,” Fadli stated in a written remark on Tuesday (7/4/2026).
Fadli added that cultural advancement is carried out through efforts in protection, development, utilisation, nurturing, and cultural diplomacy, in accordance with the mandate of the 1945 Constitution and Law No. 5 of 2017 on Cultural Advancement. He also stressed the importance of strengthening the data base so that policies taken are more targeted, including in measuring the cultural sector’s contribution to the national economy.
“We hope that through the Economic Census, we can obtain a more complete picture of cultural economic contributions. With accurate data, the resulting policies will also be more precise,” Fadli asserted.
In response, BPS Chief Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti stated that statistical data has great potential in supporting the formulation of more measurable cultural policies. “The potential from the Economic Census can be utilised by the Ministry of Culture,” said BPS Chief Amalia.
In her presentation titled Culture in Statistical Data, Amalia revealed that public participation in cultural activities shows interesting dynamics. BPS data records that 47.56 percent of the population aged 5 years and above watch performances or exhibitions directly, with music arts being the most popular at 52.55 percent.
She also highlighted that knowledge of oral traditions is higher in urban areas compared to rural ones. Meanwhile, cultural tourism has not yet become the primary destination for the public, with a visit rate of around 13.19 percent of total commercial tourism, still below nature tourism.
In addition, BPS is updating the Indonesian Standard Industrial Classification (KBLI) for 2025, which refers to international standards. This step is taken to capture the dynamics of economic activities, including the cultural sector, to make it more relevant and responsive to developments of the times.
Fadli assessed that there is still much untapped cultural potential, including cultural actors and profession classifications in the cultural ecosystem. Therefore, Kemenbud is encouraging coordination with BPS to map data more detailed so that it can be adopted in KBLI and the Indonesian Standard Occupation Classification (KBJI), including those related to intellectual wealth.
Kemenbud also stated its support for the Economic Census through socialisation and increased public and cultural actor participation. This step is expected to strengthen the national cultural data base as a foundation for data-based policies moving forward.
The meeting was also attended by several officials from BPS and the Ministry of Culture, including Deputy Minister of Culture Giring Ganesha and related officials.