Banyumas Cultural Heritage Can be a Future Creative Hub

RRI.CO.ID, Banyumas - The Indonesia's Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, held a dialogue with cultural figures from Banyumas at the Taman Ismail Marzuki on Sunday, June 7, 2026. The discussion, themed “Community Spaces as Part of Cultural Advancement,” served as a platform to gather ideas and perspectives on strengthening local cultural development.

During the event, Fadli Zon, highlighted Banyumas as one of Indonesia’s regions with a rich cultural heritage, including cultural sites and intangible cultural traditions. He noted that the region has also produced prominent national figures, artists, and cultural leaders whose legacies can contribute to cultural advancement.

The minister pointed to a variety of cultural expressions from Banyumas, including calung, ebeg, lengger, and ronggeng performances. He said the international recognition of Banyumas culture, including through the adaptation of Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk into the film The Dancer, demonstrates the region’s potential to become a major cultural enclave in Indonesia.

“Banyumas has many cultural expressions. The success of works such as Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk and its film adaptation shows that Banyumas has strong potential to become a cultural enclave,” he said.

The minister also underscored the region’s historical significance, citing several national figures linked to Banyumas, including Sudirman, R.A.A. Soemitro Kolopaking Poerbonegoro, and Margono Djojohadikusumo. He encouraged greater promotion of their contributions as part of efforts to position Banyumas as a showcase of Indonesian history.

According to him, strengthening local culture is essential to preserving Indonesia’s cultural diversity and reinforcing national identity. He added that a cultural downstreaming strategy could transform Banyumas’ cultural assets into drivers of economic growth and creative industry development.

Participants in the dialogue highlighted the role of film and cultural festivals in promoting regional heritage. Cultural commentator Hikmat Darmawan said film can serve as an effective medium for introducing Banyumas culture to broader audiences while supporting culture-based economic development.

The Ministry of Culture reaffirmed its commitment to preserving local wisdom and advancing cultural traditions across Indonesia, including in Banyumas. Through programs such as knowledge transfer between cultural masters and younger generations, the government hopes to strengthen national identity while enhancing culture’s role as a source of Indonesia’s soft power.