Supporting data collection and policy monitoring for the diversity of cultural expressions in Indonesia
Indonesia has been a Party to the 2005 Convention since 2012 and submitted its first Quadrennial Periodic Report in 2016. This report showed the considerable progress made by Indonesia for the development of the creative and cultural industries, including the establishment of the National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2015-2019. This plan lists the Enhancement of the Creative Economy, comprising of a strategy to facilitate the creation, production, distribution, consumption, and the conservation of creative products. Moreover, the establishment of a Creative Economy Agency, BEKRAF, as well as Law number 5 of 2017 concerning the cultural advancement and its masterplan, mark important developments at the policy-level since Indonesia ratified the Convention.
Some challenges do remain, however, and these were also highlighted in the 2016 QPR. Data collection on the creative sector remains difficult and an effective monitoring mechanism is lacking, owing to the vast array of issues and stakeholders relevant to the realm of 2005 Convention, which often goes beyond the traditional mandate of the Ministry of Culture. Some areas where the Government of Indonesia has faced and is still facing difficulty in reporting include media diversity, gender equity and artistic freedom.
This project therefore focuses on a key policy monitoring area of the 2005 Convention, “Promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms” (artistic freedom), to enhance data collection, analysis, and monitoring capacities, following a request from the Ministry of Education and Culture and its statistic division. Specifically, the project will contribute to improving policy monitoring on artistic freedom through training and capacity development, support data collection and monitoring mechanisms on artistic freedom, and inform policy action.
General Aim:
This project seeks to improve Indonesia’s policy monitoring on artistic freedom.
At this stage, preliminary research has been conducted.
A training workshop with government officials and cultural professionals on Artistic Freedom will be conducted by members of the UNESCO Expert Facility. The training module on artistic freedom developed by UNESCO will form the basis for this workshop.
A national team comprised of researchers, government officials and civil society representatives will be formed to collect information and data for the implementation of the 2005’s Convention monitoring framework on artistic freedom in Indonesia. A second workshop to share the national team’s findings will be organized. Finally, a public debate on artistic freedom will also be organized, with the participation of larger audience including artists associations and local government authorities.
UNESCO Jakarta will organize follow-up activities through regular communication or physical meetings to ensure that Indonesian policymakers incorporate newly acquired knowledge and information in their work and design new innovative and participatory cultural policies.