Enviro News Asia, Washington, D.C. — The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in the United States strengthened bilateral collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution during a working visit to the National Museum of Asian Arts (NMAA) in Washington, D.C., on Monday, 24 November 2025. The engagement followed up on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2023 between the Smithsonian Institution and Indonesia’s Public Service Agency for Museums and Cultural Heritage (MCB).
Ambassador Indroyono Soesilo, accompanied by Deputy Chief of Mission Nidya Kartikasari and officials of the Indonesian Embassy, met with NMAA Director Dr. Chase F. Robinson and his leadership team to review practical steps for implementing the partnership. Both sides confirmed plans to expand cooperation across art history research, conservation, curatorial development, digital archiving, and professional museum practices.
The discussions identified concrete initiatives, including knowledge exchange programs, capacity-building workshops, joint research, and the development of public education activities that highlight Indonesia’s cultural heritage. NMAA will soon deploy experts to Jakarta for a five-day workshop covering curatorial training, exhibition development, conservation for tropical climates, scientific research methods, and strategies for digitizing and managing museum collections. Two virtual classes on fundraising and visitor services will also support the capacity development of Indonesian museums.
The Indonesian delegation toured several galleries with Dr. Emma Stein, Curator for Southeast Asia, who guided the group through Indonesian collections held by NMAA. The artifacts viewed included a bronze Buddha statue from late 10th-century East Java, a bronze depiction of the deity Brahma from 9th-century Central Java, a stone sculpture of Durga, and a bronze dragon-shaped oil lamp from the 9th century. Of the museum’s 46,000 objects, 36 originate from Indonesia.
As a gesture of partnership, NMAA granted the delegation special access to its restricted collections storage area, where rare Indonesian artifacts with significant historical and cultural value are preserved away from public display.
The visit reinforced Indonesia’s cultural diplomacy efforts in the United States and advanced strategic cooperation with the Smithsonian Institution in heritage preservation, research, and modern museum development. Long-term mentorship programs, community-focused activities, and plans for a joint museum exhibition in the United States in 2027 are currently being prepared.
The Indonesian Embassy in Washington, D.C. affirmed its commitment to supporting the full implementation of the MoU to promote cultural cooperation, elevate Indonesia’s heritage on the global stage, and strengthen institutional ties through initiatives that benefit public and museum communities in both countries. (*)
