40 Objects from the National Museum of Indonesia Documented as Part of Koleksi Kita Project

From July 29–31, 2025, the National Museum of Indonesia and the Southeast Asia Museum Services (SEAMS) team carried out condition assessments, analysis, and digitization of over 40 significant objects as part of the Koleksi Kita (Indonesian Museums Documentation Project), supported by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP).

This pilot phase focuses on objects from Aceh collected between 1873–1904 during the Dutch colonial period. Despite their historical and cultural importance, these items remain poorly documented, with information scattered across multiple sources — including the National Museum of Indonesia’s photo archives, registers (many in Dutch), and the National Archives of Indonesia.

Through Koleksi Kita, SEAMS and the National Museum Indonesia are piloting a new documentation process, guided by international standards from the Getty Conservation Institute. This effort consolidates existing data and generates new research to deepen understanding of these collections.

A key aim of the project is to bring these hidden stories about the objects to light. The pilot will produce a new catalogue, a digital exhibition, and a public seminar, making these objects accessible to a wider audience.

The project also includes collaboration with the Jakarta History Museum, which is contributing several Aceh-related objects in its collection to the project.