A New Direction for National Islamic Cultural Development
The government has placed Islamic culture as a strategic pillar of national cultural development. Culture Minister Fadli Zon met with the MUI's Institute for Islamic Art, Culture, and Civilization in Jakarta on Wednesday (7/1/2026), kicking off a long-term collaboration for national programs like developing santri filmmaking, documenting Indonesian Islamic history, Islamic music, and compiling an encyclopedia of Islamic culture.
This approach marks a paradigm shift from preserving historical objects to a cultural ecosystem that generates works, strengthens national identity, and serves as an instrument of cultural diplomacy. The government is pushing to expand partnerships with various institutions, including the preservation of historic mosques and intangible cultural heritage resulting from the acculturation of Islam and the archipelago.
The strengthening strategy includes developing pesantren talent through the creative industry, like the Santri Film Festival funded by the Indonesia Raya Fund. The MUI outlined plans for the Pre-Congress of the Indonesian Muslim Congress themed "New Direction for Indonesian Islamic Culture" on July 18–19, 2026 in Tangerang, along with drafting the Indonesian Islamic Civilization Manifesto and other strategic programs.
The MUI proposed developing a Santri Film Festival, Islamic history research, and compiling the Encyclopedia of Indonesian Islamic Art and Culture documenting 500 Islamic cultural elements. Fadli Zon confirmed the availability of funding through the Indonesia Raya Fund for cultural advancement programs.
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