Indonesia Designates 514 New Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2025

Indonesia continues its efforts to protect and promote cultural heritage by announcing 514 new Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) elements in 2025. This significant event is part of the nation’s broader strategy to meticulously identify and preserve the diverse cultural wealth that exists throughout the archipelago. The initiative aims to inspire communities, especially younger generations, to continue and develop cultural traditions. Indonesian Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, emphasized the importance of the program as a motivation to accelerate cultural revival. He views the recognition process as something that should extend beyond identification to include active measures for protection and cultural promotion. Fadli Zon outlined the main recognition criteria: longstanding traditions, active community involvement, clear geographic localization, and the presence of cultural advocates and experts. It was crucial to note that 35 regions in the country were actively engaged in this initiative, reaffirmed by the presentation of ICH Recognition Certificates. One of the key strategies in the next phase is working with the Ministry of Justice to have these cultural elements recognized as intellectual property, granting them additional legal safeguarding. This time, 125 elements have already been submitted for intellectual property status, demonstrating Indonesia’s long-term commitment to supporting and promoting national culture. This new wave of recognition reflects interregional cooperation and highlights the nation’s rich cultural diversity.