This research project is managed by the Universitas Gadjah Mada in Yogjakarta.
The repatriation of the Lombok Treasures by the Netherlands in 2023 was viewed as a process extending beyond the physical return from the Netherlands to Indonesia, embracing it as an opportunity for exploring local knowledge, memories, and histories.
Drawing upon an interdisciplinary approach including history, memory studies, information studies, and heritage studies, this project aims to produce scholarly works that include publications and a website.
Exploring New Futures for Indonesian Objects also constitutes a vital component of an innovative educational research program focused on advancing critical heritage studies.
This initiative is exemplified by the participation of two postdoctoral researchers, one PhD researcher, and one MA student who will engage in this research framework through a sandwich program between Universitas Gadjah Mada and the Universiteit van Amsterdam.
In alignment with its overarching vision to foreground local ontologies and epistemologies, this project will cultivate meaningful engagement with various stakeholders, particularly museums and local communities.
Hence, giving more nuance and understanding of the Lombok Treasure’s significance, while promoting a more inclusive and participatory approach to the future of heritage management and policies in Indonesia.
The project has started in January 2025 and convenes a distinguished consortium of experts and institutions both in the Netherlands and Indonesia, namely Universiteit van Amsterdam, Wereldmuseum, Rijksmuseum, Universitas Gadjah Mada, and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia.
