RRI.CO.Id, Jakarta - Indonesia fosters its global cultural presence through major international art and film events, including the Venice Biennale and the Festival Film Cannes. Indonesia’s Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, conveyed this during a media briefing following the International Museum Day 2026 commemoration at the Museum Nasional Indonesia Jakarta on Monday, May 18, 2026.

Speaking about the Venice Biennale in Italy, Minister Fadli Zon, explained that Indonesia sent seven artists under a residency-based concept. The artists stayed in Venice for two months to develop collaborative works for the Indonesian Pavilion.

“The Venice Biennale is one of the world’s leading international contemporary art exhibitions held every two years in Venice, Italy. Indonesia sent seven artists through a residency program,” he stated.

He said most of the participating artists specialized in graphic arts and collaborated with an international graphic arts school in Venice. Since opening on May 7, 2026, the Indonesian Pavilion has received strong appreciation from visitors and members of the international art community.

“Our exhibition received an extraordinary response because the artists created and collaborated directly on site,” he said.

The Ministry of Culture also involved seven young talents from various regions across Indonesia as part of its talent management initiative. The participants came from Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Papua, and Java, where they received mentorship opportunities alongside senior artists.

According to the Minister, the Indonesian Pavilion attracted attention from international curators, festival directors, ambassadors, and ministers of culture attending the opening events. The exhibition is scheduled to continue until November 22, 2026, accompanied by symposiums, talk shows, and other cultural programs.

Indonesia also took part at the Festival Film Cannes with around 60 delegates representing the country’s film industry. Indonesian filmmakers joined several programs, including the main competition, short film categories, the Next Step Studio program, and the Marche du Film market.

“We are currently bidding for Indonesia to become the Country of Honor in 2028, so Indonesian filmmakers and their works can gain greater international visibility,” Fadli Zon said.

He noted that Indonesia’s film ecosystem continues to grow rapidly, with more than 250 films produced annually and strong domestic cinema attendance. According to him, the country’s creative industry now has significant potential to expand global partnerships and international networking opportunities.

He also urged both central and regional governments to simplify regulations for international film productions seeking to shoot in Indonesia. He emphasized that foreign productions could help promote Indonesian culture, tourism, and local destinations to global audiences.

The government is currently studying the possibility of offering incentives such as tax rebates for foreign film productions shooting in Indonesia. Fadli Zon said such policies are necessary for Indonesia to remain competitive with neighboring countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, which already provide similar incentives.