Indonesian Arts Sector Faces Crisis of Sustainability, Advocates for Systemic Change
Jakarta, Indonesia – September 12, 2025 – IndonesiaS vibrant cultural sector is teetering on the brink of economic collapse due to insufficient state support and increasing vulnerability to ethically questionable funding, warns Ade Darmawan, co-founder of the Jakarta-based art collective Ruang Rupa.Speaking on the sidelines of the Synchronize Festival on Wednesday, Darmawan painted a stark picture of a sector struggling for survival, highlighting a critical need for systemic change.
“The government support exists, but it’s very limited,” Darmawan told indonesia Business Post. “This sector is extremely vulnerable. When something this fragile is left unprotected, other interests can easily move in.”
The lack of robust financial backing leaves artists and cultural workers susceptible to influence from extractive industries and funding sources with unclear origins, forcing challenging choices between artistic integrity and economic necessity. Darmawan emphasized that this isn’t a hypothetical concern, but a daily reality for many. “It’s easy to say ‘no’ to the bad options when you have alternatives. But if you’re in a desperate position, sometimes those bad options are the only ones available,” he explained.
Ruang Rupa is actively piloting solutions, notably the “Lumbung” model – a community-based economic structure initially developed during their curation of “documenta 15th” in Kassel, Germany. this model prioritizes collaboration and the redistribution of resources within artistic communities. “Lumbung is one of our tools for survival,” darmawan stated, “But what we need is broader consolidation and stronger connections across the ecosystem. That hasn’t happened yet.”
Documenta, a major international art event held every five years as 1995, provided a platform for Ruang Rupa to showcase this alternative economic approach. However,Darmawan stressed that individual initiatives are insufficient.
The conversation also brought to light a rarely discussed aspect of the Indonesian art world: the economic realities of artistic practice. “We rarely talk about how artists survive, how they make a living. And that’s a crucial conversation especially in an event as big as Synchronize,” Darmawan noted,extending his concern to customary artists in remote areas,questioning who provides them with support.
Darmawan urged greater transparency regarding funding sources and called for increased public engagement in safeguarding Indonesia’s cultural heritage. “These choices can be perilous. It’s not always black and white, but for me personally, I do see it in black and white terms. At the same time,I understand why others may find it harder to draw the line – it’s a result of vulnerability and lack of options,” he added.
Ultimately, Darmawan concluded, a collective effort is essential. “If we agree that culture belongs to the public, then we must build it together on healthier and more equitable terms.” The warning serves as a critical call to action for both the Indonesian government and the public to prioritize the long-term sustainability of the nation’s cultural landscape, particularly as traditional arts face increasing risk of extinction.
