Jakarta, August 31, 2026 – The Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf) continues to strengthen the national visual arts ecosystem through the internationally recognized Jakarta Biennale 2026. The strategic synergy was reaffirmed during a meeting between the Ministry of Creative Economy and the Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ) to accelerate the growth and competitiveness of Indonesian artists in the international arena.
Deputy Minister of Creative Economy/Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Irene Umar, received a delegation from the Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ) to discuss preparations for the internationally recognized Jakarta Biennale 2026 at Pesona Indonesia Film Building, Jakarta, Monday (31/8/2026).
“International art events such as the Jakarta Biennale are not merely platforms for exhibiting artworks, but also strategic means of advancing the potential of the creative industry and the competitiveness of Indonesian artists. We are committed to facilitating the integration of the visual arts ecosystem so that it can generate tangible and sustainable economic impact for artists and creative practitioners across Indonesia,” said Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar during the meeting at Pesona Indonesia Film Building, Jakarta, Monday (31/8).
The meeting with DKJ was not the first, but rather a continuation of collaboration initiated on April 25, 2025, in connection with National Poetry Day. The ongoing discussions have continued to promote creativity as a medium of artistic expression with added value and significant potential for commercialization.
The meeting presented the strategic plans for Jakarta Biennale 2026, covering its vision and impact on the public, as well as opportunities for synergy between DKJ and the Ministry of Creative Economy as a crucial step toward collaboration. The partnership responds to positive trends in the national visual arts industry. Based on Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data processed by the Ministry of Creative Economy, the export value of goods from the visual arts subsector increased from US$2.45 million in January–April 2025 to US$4.28 million in the same period in 2026.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“The Ministry of Creative Economy is ready to help connect this event with potential collaboration partners, including in relation to venue provision. However, the key is to first detail the event and project requirements so that the process can be carried out more effectively. We are ready to support this collaborative space so that the creative economy sector can continue to grow and provide significant added value to the national economy,” said Irene Umar.
Jakarta Biennale is a biennial international contemporary art event initiated in 1974. It plays a strategic role in shaping artistic discourse while reflecting the dynamics of the city and its communities. The 2026 edition, themed “Kebal,” explores the resilience of Jakarta’s residents and will be held from October 4 to November 24, 2026, across nine locations in Jakarta.
The October 2026 Jakarta Biennale activities have been proposed for collaboration with the National Creative Economy Day commemorative series under the “Oktober Kreasi” program, which will take place throughout the month across various regions. In addition, the Deputy Minister of Creative Economy discussed preparations for the global forum, the World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE) 2026, which will be held on October 21–23 at JIEXPO Kemayoran and will formulate the “Jakarta Vision on Creative Economy 2026” for delegations from approximately 80 countries.
“We are grateful for the Ministry of Creative Economy’s support for Jakarta Biennale 2026. This synergy will expand the positive impact for artists and the public. We are also ready to follow up on all directions from the Deputy Minister to ensure the success of this event,” said Berto Tukan, Deputy Chairperson I of DKJ.
Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar was accompanied by Director of Visual Arts and Performing Arts Dadam Mahdar.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
