“Keroncong music is an inseparable part of Indonesia’s musical identity. It was born from cultural blending, but its nature is fully Indonesian. Keroncong’s journey in our musical history goes far back, even to the 16th century,” he said in a statement received here on Monday.
He informed that the BBM, which was launched in July 2025, is a key initiative for the management of national cultural talent.
The minister said he expects BBM participants to make use of the valuable opportunity to learn directly from the masters. This year’s BBM program is being held in collaboration with maestro Sundari Soekotjo at the Jaya Suprana Institute.
Zon expressed the hope that the participants will help sustain keroncong in the future and eventually become maestros themselves.
“Hopefully, one day keroncong will become a significant contribution from Indonesia to the global civilization,” he said.
The Cultural Affairs Ministry will support programs such as the BBM, as this is part of its mandate to advance national culture amid global dynamics, he said.
BBM participants are required to live with maestros for approximately three weeks at their homes, studios, or centers, for immersion and learning experiences in each artistic discipline.
Some of the arts covered in the program include literature, coached by Gus TF Sakai; dance, by Didik Nini Thowok; and painting by Nasirun.
The current batch comprises 60 young artists, aged 18 to 25. They were selected from 573 applicants across 189 universities and 31 provinces.
BBM is a priority program aimed at connecting the cultural ecosystem with inclusive education. It is an effort to preserve and protect knowledge as well as cultural and artistic expressions.
The program encourages participants to create original works, independently or through collaboration. In the final phase, Harvest of Artworks (Panen Karya), participants exhibit their creations in public spaces.
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Translator: Sinta Ambarwati, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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