North Tapanuli, July 11, 2026 – Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency, Teuku Riefky Harsya, commended the Tona Sian Huta opera performance and music concert held at Jetun Silangit Hall, North Tapanuli, North Sumatra. According to the Minister, the performance serves as a collaborative platform that brings together performing arts, music, culture, and creativity on a single stage firmly rooted in the identity of the Batak community.
Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency, Teuku Riefky Harsya (fourth from left), together with Deputy Chair of Commission VII of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI), Lamhot Sinaga (sixth from right), officially opens the Tona Sian Huta opera performance and music concert at Jetun Silangit Hall, North Tapanuli, North Sumatra, on Saturday (July 11, 2026).
The Minister stated that Tona Sian Huta marks an important momentum for strengthening the preservation of Batak culture while advancing the development of the creative economy, tourism, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Lake Toba region of North Sumatra. He noted that countries with advanced creative industries are consistently built upon strong cultural foundations. Therefore, Indonesia's rich cultural heritage, including Batak culture, has significant potential to become a new driver of economic growth when managed innovatively and sustainably.
“Culture is one of Indonesia's greatest strengths. When culture is managed well, presented creatively, and introduced to younger generations, it can become a source of inspiration, national pride, and economic growth. We believe that the Lake Toba region can position the creative economy as a new engine of regional economic growth while improving the welfare of local communities,” said the Minister while officially opening the opera on Saturday (July 11).
The Ministry of Creative Economy views the performing arts as a creative ecosystem consisting of talent, intellectual property (IP), and economic opportunities capable of generating employment and stimulating regional economies. The organization of Tona Sian Huta, involving artists, musicians, craft practitioners, culinary entrepreneurs, event organizers, and various supporting sectors, demonstrates how collaboration can transform cultural potential into added economic value, in line with the newly enacted Presidential Regulation on the Creative Economy Master Plan (Rindekraf) 2026–2045.
“Congratulations on the successful organization of the Tona Sian Huta opera performance and music concert. May this event continue to serve as a platform for collaboration, strengthen cultural preservation, and create more opportunities for the development of the performing arts, music, fashion, culinary, MSMEs, tourism, and Indonesia's creative economy. We invite all members of society to work together in advancing the creative economy through strong collaboration,” the Minister added.
Doc. Communication Bureau of Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
The event combined the staging of Batak Opera, rich in traditional stories and cultural values, with a Batak music concert featuring a blend of traditional and contemporary musical elements. According to the Minister, culturally based performing arts represent one of Indonesia's greatest strengths, serving not only as an integral part of the nation's identity but also creating promising opportunities for the development of the creative economy from the Land of the Batak.
The theme Tona Sian Huta means “A Message from Home.” The event featured stand-up comedian Joel Purba, performances by 27 opera talents, and 30 local and national musicians, including Maria Simorangkir, Victor Hutabarat, Style Voice, and many others. The harmony of local wisdom was also reflected through the participation of 50 MSMEs showcasing creative products from various subsectors, including culinary, crafts, and fashion.
“Batak Opera is an invaluable cultural asset. Through Tona Sian Huta, we seek to revive Batak cultural heritage while integrating culture, the creative economy, tourism, and MSMEs into a single ecosystem capable of creating prosperity for the communities around Lake Toba,” said Lamhot Sinaga, Deputy Chair of Commission VII of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI) and the initiator of the event.
Doc. Communication Bureau of Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
During the opening ceremony of Tona Sian Huta, Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky was accompanied by Acting Deputy for Strategic Creative Economy Development Agus Syarip Hidayat; Director of Visual Arts and Performing Arts Dadam Mahdar; Minister's Expert Staff for Protocol Affairs Panji Purboyo; and Minister's Expert Staff for Media Issues and Public Opinion Hasbil Mustaqim Lubis.
Also in attendance were Expert Staff for Legal Affairs and Public Policy at the Ministry of MSMEs Reghi Perdana; Expert Staff for Bureaucratic Reform and Regulatory Affairs at the Ministry of Tourism Kurleni Ukar; Regent of Samosir Vandiko Timotius Gultom; Chairperson of the Indonesian Batak Artists Association (PARBI) Charlie Willy Hutasoit; Chair of the Tona Sian Huta Organizing Committee Rudy Sham Sirait; and hundreds of performing arts enthusiasts from various regions.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of the Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
