Jakarta, October 3, 2026 – The Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf) commends the Karya Raya 2026 event as an inclusive space for Indonesian children to express their creativity, hone their literacy skills, and recognize their potential from an early age. Under the theme “Garden of Kindness: Where Creativity Grows on You,” the exhibition showcased 2,053 children’s books at the Jakarta Library, Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), from September 11 to October 2, 2026.
Deputy Minister of Creative Economy/Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Irene Umar (right), attends the Karya Raya 2026 awards ceremony at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), Jakarta, Saturday (3/10/2026).
“We appreciate the parents who provide space for their children to express themselves and use their imagination. Karya Raya is proof that dreams can grow through expression, imagination, and support for children’s ideas. Every child has the right to learn that creativity is always worth nurturing and holds value that should be continuously developed,” Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Irene Umar, said at the TIM Grand Theater during the Karya Raya 2026 award ceremony.
The Deputy Minister explained that Karya Raya not only encourages creative abilities but also fosters children’s creative character, which directly impacts the strengthening of the creative economy, particularly the publishing subsector. According to 2025 data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the publishing subsector recorded a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Rp94.02 trillion, up from Rp91.42 trillion in 2024. This subsector contributed 5.35 percent to the total GDP of the national creative economy, with a growth rate of 3.00 percent in 2025.
“The Ministry of Creative Economy wants children not only to be consumers of creative works, but also to grow into creators themselves. By fostering habits of writing, drawing, storytelling, and sharing ideas from a young age, we are building the foundation for a creative generation in Indonesia that will eventually be able to create works for Indonesia and even for the world,” added Irene on Saturday (October 3).
Children’s participation in the publishing subsector through this event has shown a significant upward trend year over year. In 2023, 638 children’s works were submitted; this number increased to 1,081 in 2024, 1,870 in 2025, and is projected to reach 2,053 children’s books by 2026. As part of its commitment to sustainability, Karya Raya 2026 also inaugurated the permanent “Karya Raya Corner” space at the Jakarta Public Library.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“We want children to grow into confident individuals capable of discovering their full potential. They need a safe space, a supportive environment, and the trust of adults. May Karya Raya become a place where children’s creativity and kindness can grow and flourish, helping to realize Jakarta as a welcoming city that provides space for every child to grow up safely, confidently, and happily,” Diki Lukman Hakim, Head of the Jakarta Library Management Unit and the HB. Jassin Center for Literary Documentation (PDS), explained.
In addition to the exhibition, Karya Raya 2026 features various activities that encourage children to engage with the creative process, including workshops, storytelling sessions, book launches, the “Tell A Tale” competition, and “Lakukaryaku,” a space where children can showcase and sell their work. These programs expand children’s experiences beyond simply creating art to include the courage to present and communicate their work to the public.
“Guiding children is a learning process for us. The importance of reading can also change children’s habits, something we can do together through simple steps, starting with reading together, then listening to a child’s story until the end, and asking about interesting points raised in the book. I hope this becomes a literacy movement that continues to grow in Jakarta,” Nasruddin Djoko Surjono, Head of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Library and Archives Office, said.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
Karya Raya 2026 was initiated by the creative platform Bookabook in collaboration with the DKI Jakarta Provincial Library and Archives Office. From the thousands of book entries submitted, Karya Raya 2026 presented 10 awards in the following categories: Readers’ Choice Award, Character Crush Award, Special Spotlight Award, Serial Storyteller Award, Comic Champ Award, Inspiration Spark Award, Giggle-licious Award, Creative Canvas Award, Imagination Wizard Award, and Literary Award. The winners were evaluated by 10 credible judges based on originality, storytelling, creativity, emotional impact, and the most effective execution of their work.
Accompanying Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar was Director of Photography and Publishing, Iman Santosa. Also in attendance were the Head of the National Library (Perpusnas), Aminudin Aziz; the Head of the Book Center at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen), Supriyatno; and the co-founder of Karya Raya and Bookabook, Ernest Junius Wiyanto.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head for Communication Bureau
Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
