Jakarta, September 5, 2026 – Deputy Minister of Creative Economy/Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Irene Umar, encouraged the creation of an inclusive and safe creative economy ecosystem where women creative talents can create, express themselves, and build networks. At the Sisterhood Festival 2026, the Deputy Minister emphasized the importance of building communities.
Deputy Minister of Creative Economy/Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Irene Umar, delivers remarks at the Sisterhood Festival 2026 held at Melting Pop, M Bloc Space, Jakarta, Saturday (5/9/2026).
“Women account for around 58 percent of the creative economy sector, particularly in subsectors such as fashion, crafts, and culinary. However, in other subsectors such as games, women world champions are beginning to emerge. The government’s task is to open up these opportunities, while our role is to support and empower women so they have the confidence to step into the light and showcase their abilities to the world, starting from gathering points like this,” said the Deputy Minister while attending the event at Melting Pop, M Bloc Space, Jakarta, Saturday (5/9).
The Sisterhood Festival 2026, initiated by Magdalene and International Media Support (IMS), together with Women News Network (WNN), serves as a platform to promote gender equality and provide a safe and inclusive space for women. The Deputy Minister noted that solidarity and collaboration are important foundations to ensure that creators do not have to navigate digital spaces alone in expressing themselves.
“The power of content is in our fingertips. What matters is that the message conveyed through the content is sincere and aimed at creating meaningful change for the world. Last year, we encouraged the establishment of an Indonesian content creators association so that they could unite their voices in promoting the creation of a safe digital space for everyone,” said the Deputy Minister.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
On the same occasion, Magdalene Editorial Board member Devi Asmarani said that Sisterhood Festival 2026 also celebrates women’s solidarity in facing various challenges. The festival encourages women to share experiences, build networks, and celebrate their journeys together.
“There are discussions and conversations to help us see various issues from new perspectives. There are masterclasses to learn and develop skills. There are community events to meet others, share experiences, and find companions along the journey. And, of course, there is comedy and music. Because struggles also need to be celebrated by laughing, singing, and having fun together,” said Devi.
Magdalene is an independent digital media platform focusing on women’s issues while promoting inclusive, critical, and progressive perspectives. Through solution-oriented journalism, Magdalene provides a space for diverse voices and experiences within society to enrich public discourse.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
Meanwhile, International Media Support (IMS) representative Eva Danayanti emphasized that creating safe spaces for women requires collective efforts from various stakeholders. According to her, safety is not only about regulations, but also about shared awareness in creating an environment that allows everyone to express themselves and create safely.
“Our concern is whether the public spaces, including digital spaces, available for all of us to express ourselves are truly safe. Safety is not simply about being protected by rules, but also about whether the people around us understand how to support the creation of a safe space itself. That is why we are encouraging the Sisterhood Festival,” said Eva.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
