We need to create a roadmap so that gamelan preservation can continue in different regions of Indonesia with diverse genres,
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Culture is supporting the preservation of gamelan and sinden traditional orchestra heritage through a festival targeting young people.

“To support the preservation of this cultural heritage, we organize the Sinden and Gamelan Festival for youth, especially junior high students,” said Director of Cultural Values Empowerment and Facilitation Yayuk Sri Budi Rahayu, here on Friday.

According to her, the younger generation is the "nation’s asset and heir of culture", so their role in cultural preservation must be continually supported.

The festival was part of the bigger 2025 Wayang and Gamelan Week held from November 2-7 across several locations in Surakarta, Central Java.

Beginning with a cultural carnival featuring cultural activists, the event aimed to encourage active participation from artists and cultural custodians to join preservation efforts.

The event celebrated global recognition of wayang puppet show as an Intangible Cultural Heritage inscribed by UNESCO in 2008 and gamelan in 2021.

Rahayu added that a roadmap needs to be developed to ensure the sustainable preservation of gamelan across Indonesia, encompassing various genres and regional uniqueness.

“We need to create a roadmap so that gamelan preservation can continue in different regions of Indonesia with diverse genres,” she said.

According to her, youth participation in the festival was a form of talent development, nurturing the next generation of Indonesia’s cultural heirs.

The festival was part of the Ministry’s programs to enhance young talent, especially in gamelan arts.

The Wayang and Gamelan Week 2025 culminated on November 7, coinciding with National Wayang Day at the Surakarta City Hall.

The summit event, open to the public, will feature gamelan and wayang performances, inviting the community to appreciate and preserve Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage.



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Translator: Sinta, Kenzu
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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