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.