Indonesia Enhances Transparency in Cultural Government Aid

RRI.CO.ID, Bandung - Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture fosters the capacity of cultural practitioners in West Java to manage government assistance for cultural activities in a transparent, orderly, and accountable manner. Based on the release received by RRI Voice of Indonesia in Jakarta, Sunday, September 13, 2026, the initiative is aimed at ensuring that government funding is properly managed and used to support cultural preservation and development.

The capacity-building program, titled “Strengthening Cultural Practitioners’ Capacity to Prevent Corruption in Government Cultural Assistance Funds,” was held in Bandung on Thursday, September 10, 2026. A total of 60 participants, including artists, cultural practitioners, and managers of cultural and customary communities, as well as staff from the West Java Cultural Heritage Preservation Center, took part in the program.

The participants received guidance on regulations governing government cultural assistance, the preparation of funding plans and accountability reports, as well as potential risks of misuse. The training also addressed illegal fees or unauthorized deductions and provided information on reporting mechanisms for suspected irregularities in the management of government assistance.

Inspector General of the Ministry of Culture, Fryda Lucyana, said strengthening the capacity of cultural practitioners is essential to ensure that government assistance is managed according to regulations and contributes effectively to cultural advancement. “Cultural practitioners are not only the moral guardians of the nation through their work, but must also become pioneers of transparency in managing public finances,” she said.

She added that the program was designed to help artists and cultural practitioners understand funding regulations, proper reporting procedures, budget misuse risk mitigation, and legal aspects related to corruption offenses. The initiative is part of the ministry’s broader efforts to strengthen good governance in the management of public funds for culture.

The program brought together legal experts and anti-corruption practitioners as speakers, including former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Deputy Chairman Adnan Pandu Praja and former KPK Deputy for Internal Supervision and Public Complaints Ranu Mihardja. Other speakers included Piping Efrianto, Principal Expert Auditor at the Secretariat General of the House of Representatives, and Inspector General of the House of Representatives Secretariat General, Commissioner General Rusdi Hartono.

Through the program, the Ministry of Culture is encouraging cultural practitioners to better understand their rights and responsibilities when receiving and managing government assistance. Greater understanding is expected to strengthen accountability while reducing the risk of misuse of public funds intended for cultural activities.

The ministry said transparent and responsible management of cultural assistance is essential to ensuring that government support delivers meaningful benefits to cultural preservation and development. The initiative also reflects Indonesia’s efforts to strengthen integrity and public accountability while supporting artists, cultural communities, and heritage preservation.