Strategy for the Preservation of the Puppet Art Tradition in the Modern Era: A Case Study of Wayang Museum in Jakarta

A decreasing interest in traditional art forms is one of the influences of globalization in Indonesia. The traditional art of wayang was recognized by United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2003 as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity and it represents a cultural inheritance that is vulnerable to disuse because of a lack of contemporary patronage. Of course, for the art of the wayang tradition to survive, its records must be preserved and the artform must be further developed. The Wayang Museum in Jakarta is an institution that contributes to the preservation of traditional wayang art through activities such as the curation of exhibitions, the organization of performances, the holding of lectures, and so on. This study aims to review the activities of the Wayang Museum in Jakarta and the investigation was undertaken in stages: first, data were collected through observation; next, they were described, and finally, they were conceptually interpreted via the activities of the museum. The results of this study indicate that the Wayang Museum in Jakarta has implemented its objectives in a satisfactory manner. Further, the study recommends the use of digital media for the re-packaging of traditional wayang art in a contemporary manner so that it can be preserved and fostered for future generations.