RRI.CO.ID, Yogyakarta – The Primary School Teacher Education Program (PGSD) at Sarjanawiyata Tamansiswa University (UST) Yogyakarta has turned artistic performance into a powerful teaching tool through its annual showcase “Gepta Karsa 4: Harmoni Budaya Nusantara”.

Staged at the Yogyakarta Cultural Center (TBY) Concert Hall earlier last week, on July 21, 2026, Gepta Karsa--short for Gema Cipta Karya Mahasiswa-- was more than just a cultural performance but also a hallmark of how UST integrates creativity, cultural preservation, and teacher training.

This year’s edition, featuring sixth-semester students from classes 6A, 6B, and 6E, marked the culmination of the course Development of Creativity in Arts and Culture for Elementary Schools (PKSB-SD).

The students presented two productions: Amparadhara--adapted from Batam’s Batu Ampar legend--and Dhānya Daurbhāgya--inspired by Malay traditions from Jambi, Sumatra.

Both works blended drama, literature, music, and dance to convey values of perseverance, honesty, gratitude, and responsibility. The event was officially opened by Head of UST's Elementary School Teacher Training Program (PGSD UST), Anang Sudigdo, and drew enthusiastic responses from the public.

What set Gepta Karsa 4 apart was its professional collaboration. For the first time, students worked with Ambar Pranasmara, a film property designer known for his contributions to national films such as KKN di Desa Penari (Curse of the Dancing Village), Sang Pencerah (The Enlightener), and Kadet 1947.

His guidance helped students refine stage sets, costumes, and artistic production, giving them real-world exposure to professional standards.

Gepta Karsa was initiated in 2022 by PGSD UST lecturer Poppy Indriyanti. In its fourth year, the program has become a hallmark of practice-based arts management learning. Poppy explained that this year’s edition reflected greater student independence and maturity.

“From production to artistic design, stage sets, music, and makeup, students conceptualized everything themselves. My role was only to guide and direct,” she said on Thursday, July 30, 2026.

Poppy emphasized that Gepta Karsa will always carry a Nusantara theme, aiming to highlight stories from across Indonesia, including those less widely known. While last year’s performances focused on Javanese folklore, this year’s spotlight shifted to Sumatra.

“We hope next year will bring stories from other regions, so that Nusantara’s richness can continue be embraced,” she added.

Beyond performance, Gepta Karsa is designed to be child-friendly and accessible. All works are free of violence, discrimination, or inappropriate themes, ensuring they can be applied in primary school classrooms as part of character education.

Performances are also free and open to the public, with digital documentation created to share the works more widely across Indonesia.

Through Gepta Karsa 4, students experienced the full creative cycle--cultural research, scriptwriting, artistic design, production management, and staging. The program strengthens PGSD UST graduates’ profile as creative, adaptive educators committed to cultural preservation.

Poppy expressed hope that policymakers will continue to provide platforms for youth to express themselves. “If young people are given space and support, they can preserve culture in many ways, including through artistic works that introduce Nusantara stories to the wider world,” she said.

This year’s showcase underscores UST’s mission to prepare teachers who can integrate arts-based education with Nusantara storytelling, ensuring that Indonesia’s cultural heritage continues to inspire future generations. ***