Indonesian Museums Documentation Project to Strengthen Cultural Heritage Preservation

The Indonesian Museums Documentation Project, supported by the United States through the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) 2024–2026, officially begins implementation this month. Led by the Southeast Asia Museum Services (SEAMS), this initiative will enhance documentation systems in museums across Jakarta and at the National Museum of Indonesia (MNI).

The project focuses on improving the preservation and accessibility of Indonesia’s cultural collections through detailed research, digital cataloging, and international collaboration. Working closely with the Jakarta Government’s Office of Culture and the Indonesian Heritage Agency (IHA) under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, the project aims to document over 1,100 objects across 11 Jakarta museums and conduct a focused pilot at the National Museum of Indonesia.

This initiative comes at a critical moment, as Indonesia prepares its cultural institutions for global visibility and digital inclusion. Through field research, capacity-building workshops, and public engagement—including a digital exhibition—the project will promote greater access to museum collections while reinforcing the importance of cultural heritage preservation in disaster-prone contexts.

A formal launch event and seminar is scheduled in July 2025, at the National Museum of Indonesia, where representatives from the U.S. Embassy, Government of Jakarta, and Ministry of Culture are expected to speak.

For more updates and public engagement opportunities, follow the project’s progress on the official website: koleksikita.id