RI-Australia museum exchange: A genuine good news story

RI-Australia museum exchange: A genuine good news story

Rob Goodfellow, Visiting Fellow, Centre for Asia Pacific
Social Transformation Studies, University of Wollongong,
New South Wales, Australia, sujoko@ozemail.com.au

In The Jakarta Post article A Rosier Account of RI-Australia
Relations, Jan. 25, 2004, Dewi Anggraeni, reviewed the
publication, Australia and Indonesia, Partners in Development,
ACFOA, Melbourne.

Anggraeni's question: Why is it that the media in both
countries focus on differences of opinion between Indonesia and
Australia? Her conclusion: "In this world of tension and
conflict, the press reporting of genuine people-to-people
cooperation across cultures is becoming increasing rare".

Does this mean that such exchanges are "un-newsworthy"? The
Australian Council for Overseas Aid (ACFOA --
http://www.acfoa.asn.au) publication strongly suggests otherwise.

My question is: How effective are cultural exchanges in
reducing the tension and conflict that seem to characterize the
RI-Australia relationship? How can both countries use the medium
of culture to form friendships, development networks, and create
opportunities.

In 2002, Wollongong City Gallery's "Tracking Cloth" exhibition
toured the cities of Denpasar, Yogyakarta and Jakarta. The
exhibition illustrated that Australian artists had been
positively influenced by their experiences of Indonesia. In an
extraordinary expression of warmth, the Indonesian President
Megawati Soekarnoputri stated at the time that, "the exhibition
had created a symbol of goodwill between two neighboring
nations".

The exhibition, however, had more than symbolic significance.
It directly lead to a cooperative agreement between the
University of Wollongong and Del Polytechnic, Tapanuli, North
Sumatra, (including two fully-funded Masters scholarships for Del
faculty staff), and the signing of a multi-million dollar
commercial contract between an Australian company and an
Indonesian investment group.

In December 2003, Bill Richardson, Director of the Australia-
Indonesia Institute (AII), agreed to support relationships
developed during the exhibition by sponsoring an exchange of
museum staff between Medan (North Sumatra) and Wollongong (NSW).

The first stage of the project was organized with the support
of Rudolf Pardede, Vice-Governor of North Sumatra and Beverly
Mercer, Cultural Councilor at the Australian Embassy, Jakarta. It
involved a two-week visit by Museum Director Sri Hartini and a
member of her education staff, Marisa Sebayang, for the purpose
of training and professional development. This included the very
practical objectives of looking at how museums are organized, how
they utilize technology, and what social, cultural and political
infrastructure was available to museums in Australia.

Museums are universal institutions -- something that Indonesia
and Australia share in common. Public appreciation of the role of
the museum is in fact gaining greater exposure and relevance as
both Indonesians and Australians examine their national and
regional identities in the context of a rapidly changing world.

The flow of information was however not just one way.
Wollongong City Gallery Director Peter O'Neill made the comment
that "the State Museum of North Sumatra has a significant
collection of Indonesian textiles. My staff want to learn how to
manage and display Indonesian ikat and batik. A display of
Indonesian textiles here in Wollongong will tell important
stories about the social and cultural complexity of Indonesia.
This will play a timely role in informing both our communities
about the language of cultural expression and mutual respect".

O'Neill echos Tourism Minister Ardika's comments made during
the opening of "Tracking Cloth" in Jakarta. If we open dialogue
in disagreement, then, according to Ardika, it is unlikely we
will ever reach our full potential as neighbors. As Ardika
stated, " If we focus on the celebration of culture, then we
create a relationship based on what we have in common, not what
distinguishes us as different or in disagreement".

Medan Museum Director Sir Hartini did however admit to some
misgivings about visiting Australia. "I had heard that some
Australians did not welcome Muslims. My experience was, to the
contrary, very positive. From our home stay host, Rose Winkler,
to the Lord Mayor of Wollongong, Councillor Alex Darling, we were
shown great kindness and friendship. I felt very comfortable in
Wollongong as an Indonesian and as a Muslim. I am not afraid to
say I have changed my mind about Australia. I hope that one day
my children may be able to study at the University of
Wollongong".

Ibu Hartini and Ibu Sebayang's itinerary was an inclusive
experience that involved a range of cultural experiences. This
included "behind the scenes" tours of Wollongong City Gallery,
the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong Entertainment
Centre, and the Illawarra History Society Museum, the University
of Wollongong Art Collection, the Art Gallery of NSW, the
Powerhouse Museum (Sydney), the Museum of Sydney, the Australian
Museum, the National War Memorial, the Museum of Australia and
the Australian National Gallery. The trip also included visits to
landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House, Nan Tien Temple and the
Australian Federal Parliament. However, just as importantly, the
guests were warmly received by a broad cross section of
Australians in their homes, at Christmas parties, at "Aussie"
barbecues, and at a special Lord Mayoral reception to mark the
visit.

Ibu Hartini was especially surprised and grateful that, during
her two weeks in Australia, ordinary Australians were familiar
and comfortable with her requirements for halal meals and the
opportunity for shalat (Islamic prayers). "To be honest, all of
the negative stereotypes about Australia from the press proved,
at least in my experience, to be unfounded", said Ibu Hartini.

Like "Tracking Cloth", the museum exchange has established
friendships and opened up a vast network of museum professionals
who are already in frequent e-mail contact with Sri Hartini. It
also created the opportunity for further cooperation. Stage two
of the Australia-Indonesia Institute exchange will involve
sending Wollongong City Gallery staff to Medan to learn about how
things are done in Indonesia.

As Dewi Anggraeni wrote in The Jakarta Post last week, "The
involvement of these people goes beyond that of the nexus of the
trainer and the trained, or the benefactor and the receiver of
money and kindness. It is in the blurring of these roles that
their stories become interesting".

The writer has recently completed his PhD in Indonesian
history and politics. He is the author of a number of books on
Australian relations with the region.