UI and Ministry of Culture strengthen museum law bill draft

Depok — Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture (Kemenbud RI) and the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at the University of Indonesia (FIB UI) are collaborating to strengthen the draft of a proposed Law on Museums (RUU Permuseuman).

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon stated in Depok on Wednesday the importance of this regulation and the crucial role of museums as centres of information, education, and culture that showcase a nation’s civilisation and cultural heritage.

The RUU Permuseuman is expected to serve as a legal instrument that encourages Indonesian museums to transform into modern, accountable, and inclusive institutions.

The discussion focuses on museum standardisation, collection protection, institutional strengthening, and human resource development.

Dr Restu Gunawan, Director General of Cultural Protection and Tradition, noted that the draft law review has been ongoing since early 2026.

“We are inviting various parties to provide comprehensive input to develop a comprehensive plan for Indonesian museum development over the next 20–30 years, including the development of digital museums,” he said.

Meanwhile, FIB UI Dean Dr Untung Yuwono emphasised the role of universities in ensuring the regulation’s relevance to field practice.

“The RUU Permuseuman is about how this nation preserves its collective memory and cultural heritage. In this regard, universities have a strategic role, where academic members work daily with sources of knowledge about the past,” he said.

Prof Dr Irmawati Marwoto, Professor of Archaeology at FIB UI and Chair of the Museum Research, Cultural Heritage, and Islamic Material Culture Cluster, stressed the need for stronger and more innovative legal protection.

“Our challenge is to ensure that this law is able to go beyond the provisions of previous implementing regulations,” she said.