Head of the Indonesian National Museum Unit, Ni Luh Putu Chandra Dewi, announced in a press conference on Friday (11/10/24) that the National Museum of Indonesia, or MNI in Central Jakarta is set to reopen for public visits starting Tuesday (15/10/24) after being closed since September last year after a fire destroyed six rooms at the back of building A, according to reporting from Tempo.
“The museum is not just a place for storage as it used to be. On the contrary, the collections are our main focus for proper arrangement,” Dewi said at the National Museum.
So what’s new at the National Museum of Indonesia after this renovation?
Tempo reports that the Acting Head of the Indonesian Heritage Agency, Ahmad Mahendra, said that the promised reopening not only aimed to repair the physical building and save the collections but also to reimagine how the museum could play a larger role in society.
“This revitalization is not just about fixing the infrastructure but a profound transformation, both physically and conceptually, bringing the museum as an interactive space to be relevant to the modern public’s needs,” said Ahmad Mahendra.
All of this, Ahmad said, was done with the assistance of the Cultural Heritage Expert Team and the Restoration Expert Team, UNESCO, and international experts. The revitalization involved various comprehensive handling steps, starting from assessing the damage to the building and collections, reports Tempo.
“The entire revitalization process was carried out in parallel with scanning and documentation to ensure accurate conservation,” he said.
He also mentioned that the MNI revitalization included conceptual transformation through the reimagining of cultural heritage consisting of three main pillars, namely reprogramming, redesigning, and reinvigorating. The museum’s security system has also been significantly enhanced, including the application of the latest technology to protect the museum’s collections from future threats.
Meanwhile, Ni Luh Putu Chandra Dewi said that the fire that hit the museum last year was utilized as a moment to strengthen the commitment to preserve and reintroduce Indonesia’s cultural heritage.
“This revitalization is a continuous effort to ensure that the National Museum of Indonesia remains a relevant and inspiring space for future generations,” she said.
Chandra added that the commitment to revitalizing the National Museum of Indonesia also includes ongoing innovation, both in terms of educational programs and exhibitions. It is hoped that the museum will continue to evolve by introducing new programs that utilize technology and adapt to the needs of visitors in the modern era, according to Tempo.
“The Immersive Space and a series of new exhibition programs that combine digital and physical elements will provide a fresh perspective on Indonesia’s history and culture, creating a space that inspires cross-cultural dialogue and social engagement,” she said regarding those innovations.
Source: Tempo
