About
The Indonesian Museums Documentation Project strengthens how museums in Jakarta manage, protect, and share their collections. It promotes accurate cataloguing, disaster risk preparedness, and digital accessibility. The project aligns with broader efforts to enhance museum practices and connect museums with global audiences.
Started in 2024 with the support of the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), the project is implemented by Southeast Asia Museum Services (SEAMS) in collaboration with the Jakarta Provincial Government (Dinas Kebudayaan Provinsi DKI Jakarta) and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemenbud) through the Indonesian Heritage Agency (IHA).
Project Components
Jakarta Digital Collections (JDC)
The Jakarta Digital Collections (JDC) is a digital heritage initiative by SEAMS in collaboration with Dinas Kebudayaan Provinsi DKI Jakarta, aimed at enhancing the documentation, preservation, and accessibility of collections in Jakarta’s public museums. JDC supports the development of a centralized cataloguing system rooted in international best practices, drawing from leading standards such as the Getty Vocabularies (AAT, TGN, ULAN), the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), and other globally recognized frameworks. These references will be critically adapted to the local context through ongoing consultation with museum professionals, subject experts, and community stakeholders. A bilingual controlled vocabulary (Bahasa Indonesia–English) will serve as the foundation for: 1. Promoting consistency in cataloguing across institutions. 2. Enhancing data discoverability and interoperability. 3. Supporting inclusive storytelling, education, and research. 4. Strengthening long-term digital access and collection resilience. The system includes a robust back-end database for internal use and an interactive, user-oriented public interface—designed to showcase curated narratives, highlight meaningful objects, and foster greater public engagement with Jakarta’s cultural heritage.
Provenance Research and Documentation at the National Museum of Indonesia
The pilot project at the National Museum of Indonesia (MNI) focuses on 60 colonial-era objects from the museum’s ethnographic collection—30 from Aceh and 30 from South Sulawesi. Many of these objects were acquired during the Dutch military expeditions in the early 20th century: the Aceh Expedition (1901–1904) and the South Sulawesi Expedition (1905–1906). These campaigns led to the seizure and removal of numerous cultural items, including ritual objects, weapons, textiles, and ceremonial regalia, now housed at MNI. Through this pilot, SEAMS and MNI will work together to: 1. Re-examine and document the provenance of each object. 2. Collaborate with international scholars, including experts on Dutch colonial history. 3. Develop a research-based narrative that highlights the historical context of acquisition. 4. Digitally document and photograph all selected items. 5. Update MNI’s internal documentation procedures (SOPs) based on the project’s outcomes. 6. Share the collection online through the online platform. 7. Present the findings in public-facing exhibitions and seminars. This component emphasizes ethical stewardship, transparency in museum collections, and historical accountability, while also enhancing digital access for researchers and the public.
Activities
Collection Provenance Research
Conducts comprehensive provenance research on 1,100+ objects across 11 Jakarta museums and 60 colonial-era items from Aceh (1901–1904) and South Sulawesi (1905–1906) at the National Museum of Indonesia. Using the Significance 2.0 framework, this work addresses critical data gaps to strengthen documentation, inform interpretation, and support transparent, evidence-based access to collections.
Documentation & Digital Infrastructure
Improves documentation through digitization, standardized metadata, and adapted international cataloguing frameworks. Through Jakarta Digital Collections (JDC) builds a bilingual system with a focus on user experience and public access. The resulting interactive platform enhances cataloguing consistency across 11 Jakarta museums while supporting engaging, accessible digital experiences for diverse audiences.
Training & Capacity Building
Delivers practical training for museum professionals in documentation standards, photography, disaster preparedness, and digital workflows. Trainings are held in collaboration with local and international experts, and are designed to build institutional capacity while fostering professional networks.
Public Engagement & Visibility
To promote transparency and expand public access to collections, the project includes a series of public-facing activities, including digital exhibitions, seminars, and collaborative storytelling. These aim to raise awareness of the importance of documentation and make Jakarta’s museum collections more accessible to both local communities and global audiences.
Participating Museums
The Indonesian Museums Documentation Project brings together a network of museums under the Dinas Kebudayaan Provinsi DKI Jakarta (Jakarta Office of Culture) and the National Museum of Indonesia, under Indonesian Heritage Agency (IHA), working collectively to safeguard Jakarta’s cultural heritage collections through improved documentation and digital access.
