Indonesia Encourages Private Support for Museum Revitalization

RRI.CO.ID, Sidoarjo - Indonesia’s Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, visited Museum Negeri Mpu Tantular in East Java 21 February 2026, to review its collections and revitalization potential. The visit highlighted the government’s push to transform museums into dynamic cultural and educational centers.

The museum houses approximately 15,000 artifacts representing the history of East Java from prehistoric to colonial periods, with around 1,100 items currently on public display. Among its nationally recognized cultural heritage objects are the Garudeya motif jewelry, the Durga Mahisasuramardhini statue, and a Homo erectus fossil discovered in Ngawi.

Originally founded by Dutch scholar G.H. von Faber and relocated from Surabaya to Sidoarjo in 2004, the museum occupies a three-hectare complex. “Museum Negeri Mpu Tantular is a significant institution with extremely valuable collections that must be safeguarded,” Fadli Zon said during the visit.

The minister emphasized that the museum’s recent reinstatement as a Type A museum should be followed by improvements in exhibition quality and presentation. He noted that stronger storytelling and interpretative narratives are essential to enhance public engagement.

“With such extraordinary collections, we need a compelling storyline, narrative, and literacy. Revitalizing exhibition design, including lighting and display concepts, is crucial to make museums more appealing to younger generations,” he stated.

Beyond exhibition upgrades, Fadli Zon underscored the importance of developing creative products based on museum collections to strengthen the museum environment. He suggested that selected artifacts, such as the Garudeya ornament, could be developed as intellectual property (IP) through merchandise and educational products.

The minister also called for closer collaboration between central and regional governments, as well as the private sector and philanthropists, to support museum revitalization. He noted that similar collaborative approaches in other heritage projects have yielded positive results, with business leaders contributing through grants and donations.

Concluding the visit, Fadli Zon reaffirmed the Ministry of Culture’s commitment to ensuring museums serve as living spaces for cultural activity rather than mere storage facilities. The government aims to position museums in Indonesia as vibrant centers of education, information, and cultural diplomacy for both domestic and international audiences.