Culture Ministry and ANTARA News Agency forge partnership to preserve Indonesian heritage
Indonesia's Ministry of Culture and ANTARA News Agency agreed Wednesday to collaborate on cultural preservation initiatives, including exhibitions of historical photographs and development of a national photography museum.
Partnership for Cultural Preservation
Indonesia's Ministry of Culture and ANTARA News Agency have agreed to collaborate on initiatives aimed at preserving and advancing the nation's cultural heritage, following a meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Culture Minister Fadli Zon emphasized the potential for synergy between the two institutions, particularly in areas related to press history, photography, and cultural advancement. The minister highlighted ANTARA's unique position in Indonesian history, noting that the news agency was founded by independence activists Adam Malik, Soemanang, A.M. Sipahoetar, and Pandoe Kartawigoena on December 13, 1937, during Dutch colonial rule.
ANTARA played a pivotal role in broadcasting Indonesia's proclamation of independence in 1945, when Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta declared the nation's freedom from Dutch colonial rule. The agency was officially designated as Indonesia's National News Agency in 1962 and was later reorganized as a state-owned enterprise in July 2007.
Independence Day exhibitions planned
Minister Fadli Zon expressed hope that ANTARA would organize exhibitions featuring photographs and documents related to Indonesia's independence proclamation during the upcoming Independence Day celebrations on August 17. The exhibitions would showcase historical materials documenting the nation's journey to sovereignty.
The minister also outlined plans for collaboration on the development of a photography museum currently under construction. The Indonesian government is conducting feasibility studies to convert a cultural heritage building in Jakarta into a film and photography museum, working in partnership with state asset manager Danantara.
We hope to collaborate on historical photos and documents for the photography museum we are currently developing.
Amplifying cultural policies
ANTARA President Director Benny Siga Butarbutar, who was appointed to the position on January 5, 2026, emphasized the news agency's commitment to disseminating government policies on cultural preservation and advancement. He noted that culture encompasses far more than artistic expression alone.
Culture is not solely about art. It encompasses many aspects. There are 10 indicators of culture, ranging from history, tradition, and society, to the arts themselves.
The scope of this cultural mission is substantial, given that Indonesia is home to 1,340 ethnic groups, 718 languages, and thousands of tangible and intangible cultural assets. This diversity underscores the importance of coordinated efforts between government institutions and media organizations in preserving the nation's heritage.
Butarbutar highlighted that ANTARA maintains a heritage center gallery dedicated to showcasing historical documentation and stands ready to assist the Ministry of Culture in establishing the planned photography museum. The news agency operates 32 bureaus nationwide, plus overseas offices in Kuala Lumpur and Beijing, providing extensive reach for cultural documentation efforts.
Our greatest contribution lies in our ability to help the Ministry of Culture present historical photographs, allowing the public to fully grasp the comprehensive meaning of Indonesia's history.
The collaboration represents a strategic alignment between two institutions with deep roots in Indonesian history, combining the Culture Ministry's mandate to preserve national heritage with ANTARA's decades of experience documenting the nation's development since the colonial era.