Indonesia : Culture and Recreation

Indonesia with 17,508 islands and more than 500 ethnic groups, has more than 10,000 culture and arts organizations. Those organizations are in the form of: foundations, institutions, informal organizations, and government institutions. The biggest number among them is informal organizations. The NPOs play very significant roles in promoting and protecting culture and arts. Each form of organization has specific area of activities.

The main activities of culture and arts foundations are giving information regarding traditional culture, through publishing journals, multimedia information, training, seminars, coordinating exhibition and organizing festivals. While informal organizations, generally operate for-profit, that is through traditional dance, traditional drama, etc. However, most organizations are self-supporting organizations, with funds raised from membership fees, and donations. The proportion of the donations is difficult to be identified since there is no public financial reporting system.

In performing arts, there is “Indonesian Society of Performing Arts” (Masyarakat Seni Pertunjukan Indonesia) (www.mspi.or.id), which has more than 1100 members comprising of individuals and institutions. There is also an umbrella organization specializing in daqwah (dissemination of Islamic doctrine) through drama, i.e. “Association of Islamic Culture and Arts” (Himpunan Seni Budaya Islam/HSBI) (+62 21 3843637, Chairman: Amiroso Katamsi), which has more than 20 affiliations throughout Indonesia.

In specific ethnic group, Betawi for example, an indigenous ethnic group of Jakarta, there is the “Foundation of Betawi Culture” (Lembaga Kebudayaan Betawi/LKBI) (+62 21 5263234, Chairman: Biem Benyamin), which has more than 60 art studios in Jakarta.

In visual arts, there is “Indonesian Women Painters Association” (+62 21 4246955). While in sculptures, there is no information available about any umbrella organization in this area of arts; even though Indonesia is famous with many of its traditional sculptures. Information about Indonesian culture and art can be found in www.senibudaya-nus.co.id and www.indo.com/indonesia/ . In Jakarta, there are centers for cultural shows and exhibitions, ie : Ismail Marzuki Center (Taman Ismail Marzuki +62 21 3154087/31934740, email: pkj_tim@cbn.net.id) , and Jakarta Art Center (Gedung Kesenian Jakarta +62 21 3808283, www.gkj-online.com ), formed by the government. In the Film industry, there is the “Society of Indonesian Film” (Yayasan Masyarakat Mandiri Film Indonesia/YMMFI, www.jiffest.org) which is a non-profit organization established in 1999 with the main purpose of reviving the film industry.

Media and Communication

There are several non-government and non-profit media and communication organizations, which provide services to their members:
- Indonesian Librarian Association (+62 21 3855729 Chairman: Dedy Rachmananta, http://ipi.pnri.go.id). There are more than 9000 member-librarians from all provinces in Indonesia. This organization provides information related to library, such as the development of library technology, and provides workshop and education to its members.
- Indonesian Radio Amateurs (ORARI) (+62 21 7581 6884, Chairman: Harsono, www.oraripusat.net) is a non-profit organization formed by the Ministerial Decree no.49 in 2002, with more than 85,000 members throughout 30 provinces.

There are 269 museums in Indonesia, most of them are managed by Culture and Tourism Development Body, under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture (some are under other ministries and privately owned). There are very few privately owned museums, such as Adam Malik Museum, Hamengku Buwono IX Museum, and Rudana Bali Art Museum. Information about museum can be accessed through the website of Ministry of Culture and Tourism www.budpar.go.id.

Sports

Government plays a significant role in sport, such as coordinating many sports associations, for example, Indonesian Association for : football, archery, sub aquatic, judo, basketball, boxing, tennis, soft tennis, squash, kempo, taekwondo, chess, bowling, volley-ball, etc.
There are some non-profit and non-government associations of traditional sports, such as : Indonesian Martial Arts Association (Pencak Silat)(+62 21 841 6011, Chairman: Prabowo Sugiono, www.pencaksilat.co.uk/psfIPSI.htm), Indonesian Sepaktakraw Association (+62 21 52962549), Inner Power Breathing Art and Self-Defense, Satria Nusantara (www.satria-nusantara.org, sn-pusat@indo.net.id, +62 21 7943155, CP: H. Limar Fatah)
There is one umbrella organization for physically and mentally challenged people’s sports, “Indonesian Special Olympics Foundation” (SOINA) (+62 21 862 5209), with affiliations in 20 provinces.
Recreation and Social Clubs
A number of international social clubs operate in Indonesia, such as: Rotary Club (www.rotary.or.id) , Lions Club Indonesia (http://lionsclubs.or.id/yli), with main activities in social services, such as : visiting the elderly, giving donations to natural disaster victims, blood donation, etc. Their main source of fund is from members’ fees and donations.

Reference:

Indonesian Art and Culture Directory 2000, Yayasan Kelola, Surakarta, Indonesia
Ministry of Culture and Tourism, www.budpar.go.id