RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia’s Ministry of Creative Economy backs the “Awan Cerah” photography exhibition as part of efforts to strengthen the creative economy from an early age, while providing children with a space to showcase their creativity ahead of National Children’s Day 2026.

Vice Minister of Creative Economy and Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency, Irene Umar, during a visit to the exhibition at Emiria Soenassa Gallery, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta, on Tuesday, said the exhibition reflects cross-sector collaboration to develop children’s potential through the photography subsector.

“‘Awan Cerah’ showcases photographs taken by children, revealing their remarkable talent. The images were captured unedited, resulting in impressive images,” Irene said in an official statement issued by the Ministry of Creative Economy and received in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Running from 3 July to 1 August 2026, the exhibition features the theme “The Young, The Cultured” and features 1,277 photographs submitted by 643 participants. The exhibition is open free to the public every day from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Vice Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Veronica Tan, said the exhibition gives children space to express themselves through Indonesia’s cultural heritage while encouraging collaboration among stakeholders to create a safe and supportive environment for children’s growth and development.

The exhibition is divided into five sections: a curatorial area, a children’s gallery for ages 6–11, a youth gallery for ages 12–16, a workshop space

, and a merchandise section. In addition to viewing the photographs, visitors can also participate in a series of discussions and workshops led by professional photographers and artists.

Retno Audite Matin, founder of the AWAN (Asuh Watak dan Asuh Nalar) community, said the exhibition aims to encourage children to express their perspectives honestly through photography regardless of the camera type.

According to her, the CERAH (Stories, Expansive, Rhetorical, Aspirational, and Authentic) program provides children with an opportunity to exhibit their work, along with education and character development programs to help them enhance their creativity and contribute to society.