Museums are an important forum to maintain cultural preservation. Museums are not only a place to store ancient objects, but also as a bridge between the past and the present that allows us to understand the cultural roots and development of human civilization. More than just a storage place, museums also serve to research, document, and disseminate knowledge about culture to the next generation. The Radya Pustaka museum in Surakarta is one of the example. This museum has a role in preserving local culture. The museum houses a collection of ancient manuscripts, gamelans, puppets, and other historical objects that represent Javanese culture. By preserving and exhibiting culture, museums provide opportunities for the public to learn, recreation, and interact with culture.
Radya Pustaka Museum is the oldest museum in Indonesia. The museum was established in 1890 which means that this year it is already 135 years old. This museum was not once located in the current place, but in the house of its inventor, Kanjeng Raden Adipati Sosrodiningrat 4. Then, finally moved to the current location, which is located on Slamet Riyadi Street, Surakarta. Radya Pustaka Museum is not only a place to store royal documents, but also as a center for the preservation and development of Javanese cultural and literary sciences. There are also ancient books, Javanese manuscripts, gamelan, puppets, and other historical objects. This museum continues to strive to realize itself as a place of education, a source of knowledge, and a tourist destination, as well as to preserve the wealth of cultural heritage to the wider community.
Cultural and technological preservation has a very important role in supporting local wisdom in the community. Local culture, which includes traditions, arts, and community values, must be preserved in order for ancestral identities and heritage to remain alive amid the growing tide of globalization. On the other hand, technology can be an effective tool to support cultural preservation if it is used properly. By combining cultural preservation with modern technology, communities not only protect their heritage but also create space for innovation and adaptation of local wisdom in today’s times.
The internship experience at the Radya Pustaka Museum provided deep insight into the importance of preserving culture and technology, as well as local wisdom which is the identity of a region, especially Solo. During my internship, I was involved in various activities related to collection management and exhibition organization.
One of my duties is to help guard the counter and train as a tour guide, where the payment system at the counter can be done using traditional or modern methods, as well as in being a tour guide what things should be avoided, and introduce to tourists that there is a QR code in each collection that can be scanned to provide information or history on the collection if you want to explore the museum without a tour guide. Through this experience, I realized that modern technology can play an important role in preserving culture, making it easier for the younger generation to learn about the heritage of their ancestors.
This essay will examine the importance of preserving local wisdom in the modern era. By understanding and appreciating these traditions, we can foster a sense of community and belonging. This essay will also explore practical ways for the Indonesian people to actively participate in preserving this invaluable wisdom.
Museums have a very important role in preserving written works and cultural objects, especially in the context of Javanese culture. The Radya Pustaka Museum is one of the clear examples of this role. I am one of the students of the University of Muhammadiyah Surakarta who has done an internship at this museum with some of my friends. I admit that the Radya Pustaka Museum is still very preserved by still doing some traditions in caring for this museum.
By maintaining and exhibiting these collections, the Radya Pustaka Museum not only preserves written works and cultural objects but also provides access to the public to learn and understand the richness of Javanese culture. As such, the Radya Pustaka Museum acts as a bridge between past and present generations, ensuring that Javanese cultural heritage remains alive and relevant in the midst of changing times. Through the preservation efforts carried out by this museum, the public is expected to be able to appreciate and preserve their own cultural wealth more.
Preserving the Radya Pustaka Museum can be done through various ways that involve community participation and support from various parties. This method can be done by inviting the public, especially the younger generation, to get to know the various historical collections at the Radya Pustaka Museum which can be done through promotion. In addition, schools can also invite their students to visit the Radya Pustaka Museum as part of learning.
And this has happened at the Radya Pustaka Museum, every week there are often visits from various schools in Koa and from outside the city. Technological support can also be used to preserve the museum. The Radya Pustaka Museum has used technology as a form of preservation of its collections, such as the use of QR codes containing explanations of the collections which are pasted on several collections so that it makes it easier for foreign tourists to learn about Indonesian culture. And the last but not least is the use of social media as a source of promotion to a wide audience. The Radya Pustaka Museum already has quite active social media that contains information on tickets and several collections so that it makes it easier for the public to obtain information.
I was given a lot of knowledge during my internship at the Radya Pustaka Museum such as, knowledge about its history, about the various collections it has, ways to conserve collections, exhibition management, communication skills and others. It is very important for the Indonesian people to preserve the local wisdom of our culture.
Because in the era of rapid globalization and modernization, local wisdom is often marginalized by foreign cultures that are more dominant, so that if there is no preservation of cultural wealth, it will be at risk of being lost or even forgotten. So, it is very important for us to participate in preserving local wisdom in the way that we have discussed earlier. By preserving local wisdom, we can ensure that future generations have a strong understanding of their cultural origins, so that the nation’s identity is maintained in the midst of changing times.
Radya Pustaka Museum has a very important role in preserving written works and cultural objects, especially in the context of Javanese culture. Radya Pustaka Museum understands that the richness of Javanese culture remains alive and relevant amidst changing times. Radya Pustaka Museum uses various methods to preserve local wisdom which involves community participation and support from various parties.
Understanding the public, especially the younger generation, to get to know various historical collections which can be done through promotion. Apart from that, schools also allow students to visit the Radya Pustaka Museum as part of their learning. They hope that the community will be able to better appreciate and preserve their own cultural riches. It is very important to participate in preserving local cultural wisdom, as local wisdom is often marginalized by more dominant foreign culutres.
By: Dawai Guita Widodo
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