Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on New Findings in Humanities and Social Sciences
Year: 2024
DOI:
[PDF]
The Urgency of Reorganizing Javanese Cultural Management: Balancing Decentralization Policy and Alternative Development
Tri Murniati, Sofa Marwah, Oktafiani Catur Pratiwi
ABSTRACT:
This paper aims to describe the problems in managing Javanese culture and provide an overview of alternative development approaches. This study was conducted in the context of decentralization, where districts and cities have the authority to manage cultural policies according to their specific needs and potentials.The research method employed is qualitative, utilizing data collected through interviews and document searches. The main informants include policy managers and cultural experts. The research site is the cultural management office within the Central Java Provincial Government. The results of the study indicate several key findings: First, cultural management differs between provincial and district/city levels, with local government organizational structures exhibiting two main patterns: the merger of the cultural sector with education, or the cultural sector with tourism under a single agency. Second, a common issue in cultural management is the misunderstanding of the concept of culture, which is often narrowly defined as art. Third, cultural policies at each government level have not been prioritized. Finally, the human resources available for managing culture are often inadequate. These identified problems highlight the importance of fostering cultural development at the regional level through a shared understanding of the significance of cultural products as learning tools. This should be supported by policies that encompass a broad definition of culture, including activities, values, ideas, and human creations. Furthermore, culture as a learning medium should receive backing from central government policies extending to the village level. Currently, villages, as the smallest governmental units, hold significant potential as focal points for cultural management, supported by their authority in accordance with applicable village laws.
keywords: culture, governance, Java, policy