ADELAIDE, Australia — A high-level delegation of female leaders from West Nusa Tenggara (NTB)—Vice Governor Hj. Indah Dhamayanti Putri, Dekranasda Chairwoman Hj. Sinta Agathia, and NTB Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) Speaker Hj. Baiq Isvie Rupaeda—conducted a strategic cultural diplomacy mission to the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) in Adelaide.
The mission focuses on tracing historical NTB artifacts housed in international collections and establishing research partnerships to strengthen the institutional capacity of the NTB State Museum and support regional heritage tourism.
Key artifacts examined during the AGSA delegation visit include:
- Bima Kingdom Heirlooms: 17th-century royal daggers (keris) demonstrating advanced metallurgical craftsmanship and historical sovereign authority.
- Ancient Manuscripts: Palm-leaf (lontar) transcriptions of the Hikayat Nabi Yusuf, documenting early Sasak literary traditions, spirituality, and written heritage.
- Traditional Textiles: Historic Lombok songket weavings serving as reference points for international textile literature and aesthetic research.
The visit featured the official launch of the research publication Two Islands, One Thread: Lombok and Bali Textiles, which explores cross-island weaving traditions.
Delegation leaders also met with Indonesian students and diaspora members in Australia, encouraging scholars to build global academic networks and transfer technical knowledge to support sustainable development across West Nusa Tenggara.
