A publicity event on Sunday that included a museum exploration and movie screenings to promote creative efforts in the city succeeded in attracting around 150 people.
During the seven-hour tour, participants learned the stories behind five museums in West Jakarta’s Old Town complex: the Bank Mandiri, Bank Indonesia, Puppet, Jakarta History and Fine Arts and Ceramics Museums.
On the sideline of the tour, they watched screenings of five movies: The A1 Corridor, Pork or Chicken, We Build This City, Picture a City and Of Time and The City.
The event marked the official start of a series of events to promote Jakarta as a creative city, called “Kota Kreatif Jakarta Punya!”.
British Council program officer Winda Wastu Melati said on Sunday that events would peak next Saturday when organizers would screen a 10-minute video looking at the possible future use of Fatahillah Square as a creative playground in the 21st century.
“The video is a collaboration by artists from Indonesia and the UK. We will run workshops [on how best to use creative spaces],” Winda said.
Also on Saturday, she said, the British Council would sign an agreement with the city administration detailing the Council’s planned three-year commitment to work with communities to boost local creative art.
Dirgantara Wicaksono Bombom from the Culture Exploration Community said that filming the Old Town might be one creative way to make use of the historic site as well as to conserve it.
“We need to pay attention to the state of the building when we film,” Dirgantara said.
He added that support by the city administration and the public were needed to preserve several unique buildings including the Cipta Negara building, which stands neglected.
“It is a pity there are still those who visit museums only to take photos while carelessly handling the exhibits. They don’t have guides showing them around,” he said.
Visitor Siti Lutfiyanah said she would consider bringing guests to the museums when visiting the city.
“I knew almost nothing of the museums. But after joining today’s tour, I know a bit more,” she said.
Of the five museums, she said, she most enjoyed the BI museum because she learned about the past through interactive exhibits.
“I can study about the past by myself,” Siti said.
Another visitor, Elis, said she enjoyed exploring the BI museum after a series of tours she took with the community.
“I took part in community events since becoming a member in 2008, but this is my first visit to the BI museum,” she said.
