DKI Jakarta Provincial Government and the Ministry of Culture Strengthen Cooperation in Cultural Advancement
The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has established cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia to accelerate cultural advancement, preservation of cultural heritage, and the development of museums in Jakarta. This cooperation was marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Culture and several ministries, agencies, and regional governments at the E Building of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia on Tuesday (10/3/2026).
The Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Rano Karno, who attended the event, expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Culture and various parties that continue to encourage cultural development in Indonesia. According to Rano, Jakarta has a very diverse cultural wealth and serves as a meeting place for various traditions from all over Indonesia. "Jakarta is a city with a very diverse cultural wealth. Like a melting pot, Jakarta has become a meeting space for various traditions, values, and cultural expressions from all corners of the country," he said.
In Jakarta, various cultural heritages live and develop side by side. From Betawi traditions such as ondel-ondel, lenong, and palang pintu, to various other expressions of Nusantara arts and culture. Rano emphasized that cultural preservation not only aims to maintain the heritage of the past but also to ensure that cultural values remain alive and beneficial to the community. "On the other hand, culture also plays an important role in urban development. The development of museums, cultural heritage, performing arts, and culture-based creative industries can boost tourism in Jakarta," he explained.
Through this cooperation, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government will strengthen various efforts in cultural advancement, ranging from protection, development, to the utilization of culture. In addition, the development of human resources in the cultural field and the improvement of the Cultural Development Index will also continue to be promoted. "Hopefully, this synergy will provide real benefits for cultural preservation and strengthen the role of culture in the sustainable development of Jakarta," said Rano.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Fadli Zon, stated that Jakarta has many cultural heritage assets that need serious attention in preservation and revitalization efforts. According to him, the Old Town area of Jakarta holds many historical buildings from the 18th century with baroque architectural style that currently require further arrangement. "Especially with DKI Jakarta, Bang Rano, DKI has many cultural heritage assets. The arrangement of the Old Town, I think we need to be involved in the master plan so that cultural heritage in DKI becomes stronger and can be revitalized. Many buildings from the 1700s with baroque style are now neglected, including the East Warehouse, which was once part of the VOC fence," he said. He added that the arrangement of the Old Town area needs to be carried out through comprehensive planning so that these historical buildings can be revitalized and reused as part of strengthening Jakarta's cultural identity.
The cooperation between the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia is expected to be a strategic step in strengthening the preservation and utilization of culture in the capital. Through cross-ministerial, agency, and regional government synergy, various cultural potentials of Jakarta, ranging from cultural heritage, museums, to traditional art expressions, can be managed in a more directed and sustainable manner. This effort not only preserves historical heritage but also makes culture an important force in building the city's identity and improving the welfare of the community through the development of tourism and culture-based creative economy.