RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Creative Economy is looking to transform photography from a hobby into a sustainable source of income for Indonesia’s younger generation. During a meeting with the AWAN Community at her office in Jakarta on Monday, April 20, 2026, Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar urged community-led exhibitions to move beyond simple display and embrace global commercial platforms.

Irene emphasized that the creative process should not end once a photograph is taken or exhibited. By integrating commercial literacy into youth competitions, young photographers can begin to understand the economic potential of their artistic expression from an early age.

“They are not just learning to take photos and express themselves, usually, it ends there. Actually, it can be explored. We can teach them to put their works into platforms like Canva or Shutterstock, that can become a commercialization,” Irene said on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The Deputy Minister noted that such initiatives serve as an early introduction to the creative economy, turning artistic snapshots into passive income that parents can help manage. She further suggested that compiling these works into books would allow for a more detailed narrative of the children’s unique perspectives to reach international audiences.

The discussion focused on the upcoming "AWAN CERAH 2026" photography competition and exhibition, scheduled to take place at the Emiria Soenassa Gallery in Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), Jakarta from June 20 to 26, 2026. The event targets children up to 16 years old and features a prestigious jury panel, including renowned photographer Davy Linggar, visual artist Jay Subiakto, and fashion designer Didit Hediprasetyo.

AWAN, a community dedicated to character building and creative skills for children, views photography as a tool for cultural preservation. Retno Audite, the founder of the AWAN community, highlighted that the youth perspective is essential in maintaining the nation's cultural memory.

“We believe every child and teenager has a unique perspective on the world and culture. When they capture moments of cultural art, dances, colors, rituals, sounds, they are not just taking pictures but are also tending to the collective memory of the nation's culture,” Retno explained. ***

Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar (center) meets with representatives of the AWAN Community at the Ministry of Creative Economy office in Jakarta on Monday, April 20, 2026, to discuss the global commercialization of youth photography. ***