RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Jakarta Art Gardens opened at Senayan City Forest Park on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, highlighting the role of culture as the foundation of Indonesia’s creative economy. The exhibition, supported by the Ministry of Creative Economy and the Ministry of Culture, aims to showcase young artists while reinforcing art’s economic potential.

Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Irene Umar, underscored that Indonesian creativity draws its strength from cultural heritage. She noted that without cultural roots, artwork risks losing identity and competitiveness. “In Indonesia, the source code is culture. Without a cultural source code, our creativity will not have strong roots,” she said during the opening ceremony, as quoted by Antara.

The 2026 Jakarta Art Gardens, staged in the open space of the GBK City Forest Park, demonstrated how installations can be enjoyed even in limited urban spaces. The event also reflects growing collaboration between ministries, the private sector, and artists to strengthen the arts ecosystem.

Organizers emphasized that such cooperation creates opportunities for artists to connect with communities and collectors, generating economic value from their work. Artworks are increasingly seen as potential investment instruments, reinforcing their role in the creative economy.

The Ministry of Culture’s involvement is intended to encourage young Indonesian artists to exhibit publicly, while the Ministry of Creative Economy hopes its presence will help them enhance the economic value of their art.

The government expects that this collaboration will empower a new generation of artists to expand their reach and strengthen art’s contribution to national economic growth. ***