Fadli Zon Eyes Over 1,000 Museums for Indonesia

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon has set an ambitious target for Indonesia to establish more than 1,000 museums, including thematic ones managed by private individuals and communities. Zon emphasized that museums can serve not only as repositories of collections but also as educational spaces and drivers of the cultural economy. Speaking at the inauguration of the Cipta Mahardika Museum exhibition room, part of the Wayang Museum development in Mojokerto, East Java, Zon highlighted the importance of thematic museums in strengthening cultural literacy. He cited the Wayang Museum, whose main collection is the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage-listed wayang (shadow puppet theater), as an example of how thematic museums can facilitate public access to knowledge about cultural heritage. Zon refuted the notion that museums are merely a financial burden, asserting that professional management can make them economic engines. "Museums are not cost centers, but can create a sustainable circular cultural economy," he stated, adding that the courage of the private sector to establish museums proves their potential for professional and independent operation. The Ministry of Culture hopes that the growth of museums will not solely depend on government initiatives. "We hope that Indonesia in the future will have more than a thousand museums as showcases for national culture and civilization amidst world civilization," Zon remarked. Furthermore, Zon announced plans to inaugurate the Museum of Comedians, or the Bing Slamet Museum, on September 27, 2026, coinciding with National Comedy Day. He expressed hope that the development of the Cipta Mahardika Museum and the Wayang Museum group will serve as an inspiration for the establishment of other thematic museums across the archipelago.