The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) is exploring cooperation with a number of museums in the United States (US).
Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Mendikbudristek) Nadiem Anwar Makarim in his visit to the US witnessed the signing of a statement of intent (letter of intent) with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) which is part of the Smithsonian Institution, one of the best museum and research institutions in the world.
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“We are deepening the relationship between Indonesia and the Smithsonian, particularly with the NMAA. We also welcome cooperation opportunities that encourage capacity building and knowledge exchange, as well as the opportunity to borrow outstanding works of art from Indonesia to be exhibited at NMAA,” NMAA Director Dr Chase Robinson said in a written statement in Jakarta on Sunday.
Currently, the Ministry of Education and culture through the Directorate General of Culture is making an organizational transition by forming the Public Service Agency (BLU) Museum and Cultural Heritage. Under the Ministry of Culture and Technology, BLU was formed as a comprehensive ecosystem to facilitate the preservation, utilization and management of collections, research, sites and cultural objects.
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“By consolidating museums and cultural heritage in one BLU, the Indonesian government can freely collaborate with the community, utilize resources to be more effective in preserving collections, creating programs, and working with various partners,” said Nadiem.
The signing of the letter of intent was carried out between the Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art Dr. Chare Robinson and the acting head of the National Museum of the Ministry of Education and Culture Sri Hartini, represented by the Director General of early childhood education, basic education, and Secondary Education of the Ministry of Education and culture Iwan Syahril.
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The working visit of the Minister of Culture and technology to the US has two special missions. First, to encourage cooperation, both in the field of higher education with a number of universities and cooperation in the field of culture with the world’s top research and museum institutions based in the US. Second, to affirm Indonesia’s leadership in the transformation of the education system through breakthroughs in free learning.