Encouraging Love for Wayang, BCA Organizes “Wayang for Student”, Followed by 695 Students

Jakarta, 18 December 2018 –PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BCA)’s commitment and consistency to contribute to preserving Indonesian art continues to be carried out through various programs and activities. This time, through the Bakti BCA cultural program, BCA for Indonesian Wayang, BCA organizes Wayang for Student. Wayang for Student 2018 this time composed of workshops and Wayang Performances, followed by 695 students and 49 teachers, who come from 12 schools in Jakarta and Serang.   

Before the performance began, the Wayang for Student presented a workshop, split into three segments, namely the introduction of wayang and its values, how to make shadow puppets, and play shadow puppet. The workshop invited speakers, who are artists and craftsmen from BCA Foster Tourism Village Wayang Wukirsari, including Puppeteer Nanang Hape, Arie Dagienkz and Kiki Dunung. The event was followed by 695 students and 49 teachers from 12 schools in Jakarta and Serang.     

Wayang for Student 2018 in Jakarta was opened by BCA Independent Commissioner Cyrillus Harinowo, Executive Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of BCA Inge Setiawati, Director of Arts, Directorate General of Culture, Ministry of Education and Culture Restu Gunawan, Acting Head of DKI Jakarta Education Agency Bowo Irianto, President of Unima T. A. Samodra Sriwidjaja, Chairman of Pepadi Kondang Sutrisno, Chairman of Senawangi Suparmin Sunjoyo in Jakarta, Tuesday (18/12).

Cyrillus explained that since 2014, BCA has consistently held activities to introduce wayang, targeting students across the country to take part in it. “Looking at the low enthusiasm for wayang from the younger generation and the massive digitalization development that is dominating the younger generation segment, we, therefore, do not wish to see the Indonesian culture to be eroded by the times and are trying to create activities that can bring wayang culture closer to the Indonesian public, especially the younger generation,” added Cyrillus.

According to the records of the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, wayang has been listed in one of the eights cultural elements of the UNESCO Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2008. “In addition to educating the students about wayang as Indonesian cultural heritage, the Wayang for Student program shall reflect BCA’s love for Indonesian culture as our ancestors’ legacies,” added Cyrillus.

Not only in Jakarta, Wayang for Student has also been conducted in Semarang some time ago, which attracted more than 800 enthused participants as audience and performers. Besides, Wayang for Student was also conducted in Bandung and attracted 1,504 students of Secondary and High School in Bandung. Wayang for Student in Bandung presented Wayang Orang & Wayang Golek Performance under the theme of “RAMA SINTA JOURNEY OF LOVE STORY”.

Cyrillus added that knowledge and insight into wayang as Indonesian heritage must be passed on to the students in order to keep it alive and well-understood as Indonesian cultural heritage that carries within them high moral values. We hope that this Wayang for Student program can be a platform for students to experience wayang as a whole. Lastly, we hope that this event may also contribute to encouraging the younger generation to preserve our globally-recognized national culture,” Cyrillus concluded.

BCA Organizes Workshop & Wayang For Student Performance – Executive Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of BCA Inge Setiawati (second left) accompanied by Independent Commissioner of BCA Cyrillus Harinowo (third left) symbolically handed Wayang Statue to one of the participating students witnessed by Director of Arts, Directorate General of Culture, Ministry of Education and Culture Restu Gunawan (fourth left) and Head of Student and Character Building for Secondary and High School Sularno (left) at the Opening of Workshop & Wayang For Student Performance in Jakarta, Tuesday (18/12). Wayang for Student serves as a platform to preserve and develop Indonesian culture, namely wayang, organized by BCA through its CSR Bakti BCA program. Wayang for Student 2018 this time was followed by 695 students and 49 teachers, who come from 12 schools in Jakarta and Serang.