“This program aims to support the development of artistic ecosystems, particularly for dance, through mentoring, training, and public involvement,” he stated in an official release received in Jakarta on Friday.
Zon emphasized the importance of offering tangible support to small dance studios across the country, as they play a key role in preserving culture.
He also noted that organizing regular community-based dance performances could help strengthen the artistic ecosystem.
The minister added that the government considers it equally important to integrate dance into broader fields, such as tourism, education, and cultural diplomacy.
“We hope that arts education will promote more equitable cultural distribution, preventing it from being concentrated only on Java Island or in major cities,” he remarked.
In this context, Zon noted that Indonesia now hosts several arts institutes across various provinces, including Central Java, Yogyakarta, Aceh, West Java, West Sumatra, and Bali.
He further emphasized that the Ministry of Culture is eager to collaborate with other government bodies, particularly the Ministry of Tourism and the Creative Economy Ministry, to develop the national arts landscape.
Zon asserted that cross-sector synergy and harmonized policies are crucial for building a strong ecosystem for Indonesian dance forms.
“Hopefully, Indonesian dances will gain international recognition and contribute to global culture,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, Hartati, founder of the Indonesian Dance Arts Foundation, identified several major challenges to strengthening the dance ecosystem: unequal access to relevant information, Java-centric programming, and a disconnect between major festivals and emerging artists.
“Our foundation aims to avoid centralization, such as using Jakarta as the sole benchmark. To address this, we promote local expressions in contemporary styles,” she affirmed.
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Translator: Sinta A, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Primayanti
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