"We appreciate what President Jokowi conveyed in the annual session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) because it is also part of the mandate of the Law for the Advancement of Culture, namely Article 49," the directorate's secretary, Fitra Arda, said here on Tuesday.
The law states that to advance culture, the central government can create a cultural trust fund.
In fact, he said, the seven directions of cultural development policies include cultural budgeting and institutional reform to support the advancement of culture.
In 2022, the ministry is managing a cultural endowment fund of Rp185 billion, Arda informed. The fund is meant to be used for providing institutional support to ensure the sustainability of cultural organizations, the utilization of public spaces, and strategic initiatives.
Related news: Widodo vows to increase cultural endowment fund
“Then, it is used for documenting the work or knowledge of maestros, stimulating cultural expression activities, creating innovative and creative works, funding assistance for works for international distribution, as well as studying objects for the promotion of culture and cultural heritage," he expounded.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), in his speech on Tuesday, promised to increase the cultural endowment fund to support activities for national cultural advancement.
"We will continue to improve the cultural endowment fund based on the government's fiscal capabilities," he said in his state address at the 2022 annual session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the joint session of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) at the Parliamentary Complex in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The endowment fund is mandated by Law No. 5 of 2017 concerning the Advancement of Culture.
The mandate was followed by the issuance of Presidential Regulation No. 111 of 2021 concerning endowment funds in the field of education, which include the cultural endowment fund.
Related news: Education Day celebration highlights recovery, Freedom in Learning
Translator: Indriani, Raka Adji
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
