Jakarta, November 20, 2025 – The Europe Today: Indonesia will partner with Malaysia to host a major Islamic-Malay cultural festival aimed at celebrating the region’s shared heritage and highlighting Indonesia’s cultural diversity as the world’s most populous Muslim nation.
Announcing the initiative on Wednesday, Indonesia’s Culture Minister Fadli Zon voiced strong support for the use of public art to showcase Islamic-Malay traditions, noting Indonesia’s longstanding history of integrating Islamic values with local artistic expression.
“I fully support exhibitions using public art, especially showcasing Islamic-Malay culture. Indonesia has a long tradition of blending Islam with local arts,” Fadli said in Jakarta.
The festival, titled Malaysia Islamic Art and Design, will feature public art installations across multiple venues in Jakarta, promoting deeper understanding of Islamic-Malay culture among both Indonesians and international visitors. Scheduled for November 2026, the event aims to serve as a major regional platform for cultural education and artistic collaboration.
Fadli highlighted the Museum Gedung Pusaka Keraton Kanoman in Cirebon, West Java, as a model for innovative public exhibitions using modern technology. He noted that the museum recently transformed an 18th-century warehouse into a contemporary art hall equipped with installations and video-mapping to enhance narrative storytelling.
Paulina Gallardo, Director at Advisory Ltd, underscored the festival’s importance as a pioneering cultural initiative.
“This festival is the first initiative celebrating the heritage of Malay countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Southern Thailand, and Southern Philippines,” she said, emphasising the need for collaboration among cultural practitioners, curators and audiences.
Minister Fadli also discussed opportunities for partnerships involving government bodies, cultural institutions and the private sector to strengthen the development of Islamic-Malay arts.
“Promoting Islamic-Malay arts can create a sustainable ecosystem, enhancing livelihoods for artists and cultural practitioners,” he added.
The festival is expected to bolster regional cultural cooperation and broaden appreciation of Islamic-Malay artistic heritage across Southeast Asia.
