Jakarta, October 7, 2026 – Deputy Minister of Creative Economy/Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Irene Umar, attended the opening of Indonesia Contemporary Art & Design (ICAD) 16 at grandkemang Hotel, Jakarta, Wednesday (7/10). Her attendance underscored the importance of creating spaces where artists, designers, creative economy practitioners, and the public can come together to expand the reach of creative works and unlock economic opportunities.
Deputy Minister of Creative Economy/Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Irene Umar, talks with artists and creative economy practitioners while attending the opening of Indonesia Contemporary Art & Design (ICAD) 16 at grandkemang Hotel, Jakarta, Wednesday (7/10/2026).
Carrying the theme Being: Becoming, ICAD 16 runs from October 8 to November 8, 2026. The theme explores the human process of understanding existence and values, as well as the journey of continuous growth through artistic and design expression.
“The theme Being: Becoming is very interesting because, as human beings, we are not simply in a state of being but are constantly becoming something. This process relates to how we live out our values and shape our lives in accordance with what we aspire to do. One way to express this is through art and creativity,” said the Deputy Minister.
Since its inception in 2009, ICAD has served as a contemporary art and design platform that brings together diverse disciplines and cultural expressions. In its 16th edition, ICAD presents works by established contemporary artists, emerging creators, collectives, and communities working across art, design, music, culture, and new materials through a range of exhibition and collaborative programs.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that the creative process must be accompanied by entrepreneurial skills and financial management capabilities. This balance is essential to ensure that creative works can reach broader audiences and markets while generating economic benefits for their creators.
“If we can create work but are unable to sell it and bring it to a wider market, the flow will stop. The message entrusted to us as artists is not only for ourselves but also for the people around us. Therefore, creativity needs to be supported by entrepreneurship and financial planning skills,” Irene explained.
In addition to exhibitions, ICAD 16 features public programs, including talk shows, public lectures, interactive activities, and art workshops, involving artists, designers, creative economy practitioners, and stakeholders from various fields. The ICAD Student Tour also involves 22 educational institutions, ranging from elementary schools to universities, giving students the opportunity to visit the exhibition and interact directly with curators and artists.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“Events like ICAD bring together people across subsectors, generations, and industries. Ultimately, we speak the same language through creative expression. These kinds of encounters are important to ensure that creativity continues to flow and has an impact on more people,” Irene said.
The Ministry of Creative Economy’s support for ICAD 16 is part of its efforts to strengthen the art and design ecosystem, expand networks among creative practitioners, and help Indonesian creative works reach broader markets and generate added economic value.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
