On Wednesday, May 17, 2023, group 3 carried out activities to conserve batik culture at Kampoeng Batik Semarang. Kampoeng Batik Semarang is located in Rejomulyo Village, East Semarang District, Semarang City, Central Java. This Semarang batik village is the center for the development and preservation of semi-traditional batik in Semarang. This batik cultural conservation activity involves the Semarang batik artist community, the local community, and young people visiting the village, who have an important role in maintaining and preserving the cultural heritage of batik. The efforts made in carrying out this cultural conservation activity are made by learning batik, which is taught directly by one of the batik communities in Kampung Batik.
Cultural conservation activities in Kampung Batik Semarang are carried out through a comprehensive approach where all parties are involved. First, education and training efforts are made for the younger generation. Batik artists and cultural experts provide lessons on traditional batik-making techniques, explain the meaning of each motif, and teach how to pass these skills on to the next generation. Apart from that, market development and promotion of traditional batik were also carried out. Local governments and related organizations work together to expand market reach, both locally and internationally.
Batik art exhibitions, cultural festivals, and promotions through social media are the means to introduce the beauty of Semarang batik to the wider community. In addition, collaboration with the community and related parties is also an important part of cultural conservation activities. Through collaboration with universities, art institutions, and non-governmental organizations, documentation, research, and information gathering on the history and development of traditional batik are carried out. This helps in increasing understanding and appreciation of this cultural heritage as well as enriching knowledge regarding the traditional art of batik. With a comprehensive approach, cultural conservation activities in Kampung Batik Semarang seek to ensure that the traditional art of batik continues to live, develop, and become an important part of the cultural identity of the local community.
In this activity, group members consisted of Bayu Ardiansyah (321142003), Muhammad Rafli (3211422015), Desi Puspita Angraini (3211422021), Dhea Latifah (3211422023), Lisna Perlita Sari Br. T. (32211422034), and Intan Dwi Maharani (32211422043). This activity has the goal of preserving Semarang batik culture. This activity of preserving batik culture has the benefit of increasing pride in Indonesian regional culture and being able to increase knowledge about batik culture. By preserving skills and knowledge through conservation activities, skills and knowledge in making traditional batik can be learned, passed on, and enriched.
The message conveyed by Mrs. Rini Sri Handayani, one of the batik craftsmen in Semarang Batik Village, to students is that we, as students and also the millennial generation, must preserve, protect, and also love the cultural heritage of batik by means of one of them wearing batik clothes or being able to make batik itself. In this way, we can open up business opportunities and form a community of local batik craftsmen. Not only that, we can be creative and increase our knowledge of how to make batik and the types of batik themselves. Through the message of this cultural conservation activity, we must remind each other that cultural preservation is a shared responsibility and that every small effort we make can have a big impact on preserving our precious cultural heritage.
Written by: Bayu Ardiansyah, Muhammad Rafli, Desi Puspita Angraini, Dhea Latifah, Lisna Perlita Sari Br. T., and Intan Dwi Maharani.
