"All along, President Joko Widodo's government has consistently supported the (efforts) to develop the culture," Deputy II of KSP Abetnego Tarigan noted in a press statement received here on Saturday.
In pursuing such commitment, the government has initiated "Dana Indonesiana" (Indonesian Fund), a cultural endowment fund program that kicked off in the previous year, he pointed out.
"If in the education sector, government proffers scholarship for people, who intend to continue their education sector, then in cultural affairs, the government also gives a similar scheme. With Dana Indonesiana, art and cultural actors can issue their programs and ideas to receive funding from the state," he elaborated.
He noted that in 2022, funding for art and cultural affairs had supported some 300 cultural development projects.
Tarigan explained that annually, the government sources Rp1 trillion (US$68.1 million) for the funding, which will then be increased to Rp5 trillion (US$340.7 million) each year until 2024.
He remarked that the interest from the funding will be channeled to pay for people's cultural projects' proposals.
The project proposals can be issued individually or through communities, he revealed.
The KSP consistently demonstrates its support for cultural development initiatives, including through the national creative dance competition hosted on Friday, May 5, by the Gentra Lestari Budaya dance group, Tarigan pointed out.
He remarked that the creative dance competition, which is a further development of traditional dance, is in line with the government's commitment in the Cultural Development Law.
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Translator: Rangga Pandu A J, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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