By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Feb 8: Sarawak is deepening regional ties in heritage preservation and creative industry development through an official working visit to Bandung, a city long celebrated as the ‘Paris of Java’ as a centre of history, heritage, and creative expression.
According to a press release, the visit, organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Sarawak, forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen cooperation with regional heritage and craft institutions while drawing lessons from Bandung’s integrated approach to culture, creativity and tourism.
Led by the ministry’s deputy minister, Datuk Snowdan Lawan, the delegation began its programme at the Museum Konferensi Asia Afrika. The landmark institution commemorates the historic 1955 Asian–African Conference and stands as a powerful symbol of cultural diplomacy and shared Global South identity.
During the visit, the delegation gained insights into how Bandung weaves history, identity and social memory into a dynamic heritage tourism ecosystem—positioning culture not as a static display, but as a living narrative that continues to shape contemporary urban life.
A key component of the programme was a discussion session with Dewan Kerajinan Nasional Daerah Jawa Barat (Dekranasda Jawa Barat), led by its director, Ibu Noneng Komara Ningsih.
The dialogue focused on strengthening craft ecosystems, encouraging design-led innovation and enhancing intellectual property protection for artisans, while ensuring that heritage identity remains safeguarded amid commercial growth.
The Sarawak delegation also visited Saung Angklung Udjo, a renowned heritage and performing arts centre dedicated to preserving and promoting traditional Sundanese music. The angklung itself is recognised by Unesco as Indonesia’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The visit highlighted how younger generations are actively introduced to their cultural roots through structured education and performance programmes, fostering pride, participation and a strong sense of cultural ownership.
Additionally, the Sarawak delegation observed a comprehensive support system that nurtures talent development and ensures intergenerational knowledge transmission, while integrating performing arts, education, craftsmanship and creative entrepreneurship into a sustainable, heritage-based creative industry ecosystem. — DayakDaily
