Wayang must serve as cultural diplomacy tool for youth: Ministry

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39 minutes ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture has encouraged a greater role for wayang puppetry as a means of cultural diplomacy, particularly among young people, to introduce values of tolerance, diversity, and humanity to the international community.

The ministry’s Deputy for National Character and Identity Strengthening, Warsito, said in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday that wayang embodies values of wisdom, justice, courage, and tolerance that remain relevant to global society.

“Wayang should not only be seen as a legacy of the past that must be preserved, but as a living cultural heritage that continues to grow and give meaning to today’s generation,” he said.

According to Warsito, wayang must be able to reach younger audiences without losing the noble values that form its essence.

The traditional performing art also has a universal language that can bridge differences in nationality, language, and cultural backgrounds, he added.

To ensure the sustainability of the wayang ecosystem, the ministry is promoting four strategic measures, strengthening the regeneration of young puppeteers, developing studios and communities, expanding cultural diplomacy through performances in other countries, and establishing measurable preservation targets.

Efforts to encourage the regeneration of puppeteers include providing creative spaces for young artists, developing stories that reflect contemporary developments, and utilizing digital media to reach wider audiences.

The ministry is also promoting the development of studios and communities through continuous guidance for puppeteers, craftspeople, and gamelan players, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture.

In addition, it is encouraging cross-border wayang performance collaborations as part of Indonesia’s cultural diplomacy efforts.

Warsito stressed that the success of preservation efforts must be measured through indicators, including the number of young artists receiving guidance, growth in domestic audiences, and the frequency of international performances.