Indonesia Backs Revitalization of Historic De Majestic

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian Minister of Culture Fadli Zon has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to preserving and revitalizing the historic De Majestic Building on Jalan Braga in Bandung, West Java. Fadli made the statement when he received representatives of the Mestika Wanodja Indonesia Foundation at the Ministry of Culture in Jakarta on Monday, 7 September 2026.

The meeting discussed the condition of De Majestic, which is more than 100 years old, as well as its maintenance needs and efforts to optimize the building as a venue for performances and cultural activities. Fadli said the preservation of De Majestic requires synergy with the local government, as the building is an asset of the West Java Provincial Government.

Osye Anggandari, a trustee of the Mestika Wanodja Indonesia Foundation, explained that the management of De Majestic is based on a cooperation agreement with PT Jasa dan Kepariwisataan Jawa Barat, signed in February 2023 and valid until 2028. In addition to maintaining the building, the foundation is seeking to reintroduce De Majestic as an arts venue and a cultural tourism destination in Bandung.

Wina Sumaryani, Chairperson of the Mestika Wanodja Indonesia Foundation, said the renovation needs at De Majestic involve not only the condition of the building but also facilities supporting art activities and film screenings. “Many artists want to make maximum use of this building, but some of the equipment available is already too old,” Wina said.

In response, Fadli said the Ministry of Culture would support further preservation efforts, particularly if De Majestic is designated as a national cultural heritage site. The government also supports the use of the building as an arts and cultural venue involving various communities.

“As for its revitalization, we can involve various cultural communities in West Java so that De Majestic can once again serve as an arts center,” Fadli said. He added that the use of cultural heritage buildings should go hand-in-hand with preservation efforts to ensure that their historical value is maintained while keeping them active within the community.

De Majestic is one of Bandung’s historic buildings, constructed in the early 1920s and designed by architect Charles Prosper Wolff Schoemaker. Originally known as Concordia Bioscoop, the building hosted the screening of Loetoeng Kasaroeng on 31 December 1926, a film widely recognized as Indonesia’s first film.

De Majestic has now been designated as a cultural heritage building by the Bandung City Government and continues to be promoted as an arts and cultural venue. The Ministry of Culture hopes the building will remain preserved as part of Bandung’s cultural heritage while once again serving as a space for community gatherings, performances, and artistic and cultural expression.