RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is expanding its cultural funding programs and accelerating heritage preservation efforts as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the country’s cultural ecosystem. The policy direction was outlined by Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, during a parliamentary working meeting in Jakarta on Tuesday, 19 May 2026.

The meeting with Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives focused on disaster recovery for cultural heritage sites, cultural financing reforms, and support for national strategic programs. Representatives from eight parliamentary factions attended the session chaired by Deputy Chairperson Kurniasih Mufidayanti.

During the meeting, Fadli Zon, announced that the Ministry of Culture had distributed Rp9.69 billion in assistance for communities, artists, cultural workers, and heritage sites affected by disasters. The aid included logistics support, cultural heritage recovery funding, and assistance for cultural human resources in several provinces including Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra.

The ministry also introduced reforms to its national cultural funding scheme, previously known as Dana Indonesiana and now renamed Dana Indonesiaraya. According to Fadli Zon, the program received 6,431 proposals from all 36 provinces in Indonesia, reflecting a sharp increase in public participation compared to previous years.

“Since the registration for Dana Indonesiaraya opened on April 2, 2026, around 3,995 proposals have already been submitted,” Fadli Zon said. He added that the ministry is simplifying the application system following complaints from cultural communities about complicated administrative procedures.

To improve management, the government plans to establish a dedicated cultural financing service center that will oversee Dana Indonesiaraya and other cultural funding programs. The initiative is intended to create a more responsive and accessible support system for artists, cultural institutions, and local communities.

Beyond funding reforms, the ministry is also accelerating the preservation of Indonesia’s cultural heritage. Fadli Zon, stated that the government has officially designated 430 national cultural heritage sites, while also speeding up the documentation of intangible cultural heritage across regional and national levels.

Indonesia is simultaneously strengthening its international cultural diplomacy efforts through participation in global events such as the Venice Biennale and the Festival de Cannes. The ministry also confirmed plans to continue cultural preservation projects at Borobudur Temple under UNESCO standards, including the proposed installation of a bronze-and-gold chattra using a non-invasive conservation approach.