RRI.CO.ID, Mataram - The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) State Museum is pioneering a grassroots approach to heritage preservation by transforming the historic Karang Taliwang neighborhood into a "living" thematic museum. By shifting away from traditional gallery walls and moving into the streets of Mataram, officials hope to empower local residents to become the primary guardians of their own centuries-old story.

The Head of the NTB Museum, Ahmad Nuralam, identified Karang Taliwang as a prime candidate for this "village-based" museum model during an announcement in Mataram on Monday, March 30, 2026. He pointed to the area’s unique social fabric and deep historical roots as the foundation for the project.

"Karang Taliwang has the potential to be developed into a village museum because it has an entrepreneurial DNA, strong social cohesion, and historical traces that have existed since the 17th century," Ahmad Nuralam said, as quoted by Antara.

The project breaks away from conventional "top-down" government mandates, opting instead for a participatory framework. The museum plans to involve community leaders, youth groups, and local residents in every stage, from initial planning to daily management.

This ensures that the museum is not just a repository for artifacts, but a vibrant space representing traditions that are still actively practiced.

"We invite them to think together about creating the Karang Taliwang village museum," Nuralam said.

Historically, Karang Taliwang traces its origins back to the 16th century, when it was established by troops from the Taliwang Kingdom sent to assist the Selaparang Kingdom against invasions from the Gelgel and Karangasem Kingdoms. Today, the village is best known globally for its iconic Ayam (chicken) Taliwang cuisine, but officials believe its architectural and social history holds equal value.

Under this new model, visitors will be able to witness social-cultural practices and ancient architecture as a "natural exhibition space" woven into the residents' daily lives. To facilitate this, the NTB Museum and the local community are forming an ad-hoc team to map out the village's potential and identify the support needed from various stakeholders.

Local residents have greeted the initiative with enthusiasm, seeing it as an opportunity to diversify the local economy beyond food tourism. Syfari Habibi, a 53-year-old community figure in Karang Taliwang, expressed his pride in the neighborhood's dual identity as a culinary and historical landmark.

"The Taliwang community strongly supports the program because, in addition to the famous Taliwang chicken culinary delights, we also have strong historical value. We can share more about the history of Taliwang through the village museum," Syfari concluded. ***