RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially launched the 2026 Indonesian Arts and Culture Scholarship (IACS/BSBI) Program, bringing together 12 participants from ASEAN countries to strengthen regional friendship through arts, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heru Hartanto Subolo, said during the program's opening ceremony in Jakarta on Monday, August 3, 2026, that the Indonesian Arts and Culture Scholarship (BSBI) is one of Indonesia's flagship public diplomacy programs that uses arts and culture to foster friendship among nations.

Carrying the theme "Celebrating Cultural Strength, Inspiring Global Youth," Heru said that culture is not only a source of national identity and confidence but also a powerful bridge that connects people across borders.

"By celebrating the strength of Indonesia's culture, we honor the values, creativity, diversity, and living traditions that shape our national identity," he said In a statement received in Jakarta on Thursday, August 6, 2026.

The Director of Public Diplomacy, who also serves as Chair of the BSBI 2026 Organizing Committee, said this year's program marks the 22nd edition since it was first launched in 2003. Over the past two decades, the program has produced 1,081 alumni from 85 countries and has grown into one of Indonesia's key public diplomacy platforms for strengthening people-to-people relations through arts and culture.

According to him, the 2026 BSBI program is expected to deepen participants' understanding and appreciation of Indonesia's rich cultural heritage while promoting friendship, mutual understanding, and cooperation among ASEAN communities through direct engagement in various arts and cultural activities.

Jakarta State University (UNJ) has once again been appointed as the implementing agency for the program, which combines arts and cultural education, Indonesian language learning, and community-based experiences. Over approximately 45 days, participants will take part in cultural arts workshops, Indonesian language classes, cultural visits, community service activities, and direct interactions with local communities.

UNJ Secretary Prof. Dr. Suyono expressed hope that the program would not only broaden participants' knowledge of Indonesia's arts and culture but also foster lasting friendships that continue after they return to their respective countries.

Participants in the 2026 BSBI program come from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. The program is expected to strengthen people-to-people connectivity across ASEAN while fostering appreciation for the values of diversity, tolerance, and peace.