NTB Museum Invites People To Actively Protect Historical Artifacts From Damage And Transfers
The museum is not only a place to store old objects, but is a living space that connects the past with the present. In it there are artifacts that witness the silentness of civilization, identity, and noble values of a nation.
In West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), the preservation of artifacts is not only carried out in museum exhibitions, but also involves the community as the initial guard of historical heritage.
The State Museum of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) continues to encourage the active participation of residents to maintain and preserve historical objects that are still scattered in houses and yards so as not to damage or change hands, let alone abroad.
The head of the NTB Museum, Ahmad Nuralam, emphasized the importance of collective awareness in keeping artifacts in their original environment. We want to grow the understanding that this artifact is not just an old object, but a cultural heritage that has high historical value. If you change your hand, especially abroad, it will be difficult to return," he said when met in Mataram, Thursday.
Nuralam explained that the museum is actively conducting socialization and direct education to rural communities to prevent damage due to corrosion or illegal buying and selling practices by private collectors. This step is part of a mission to strengthen community-based cultural preservation.
One of the flagship programs of the NTB Museum is Kotaku Museumku, Kampungku Museumku, which prioritizes the preservation of artifacts through direct care in its original environment. This program also includes the establishment of a village museum that functions as a center for education, protecting local culture, and driving the community's creative economy.
According to Nuralam, the concept of a museum must develop from just an exhibition venue to an institution that coexists with the community. The museum must be a space that is integrated with people's social and cultural activities, not just places to store past objects," he said.
The NTB Museum now encourages every village to have a local museum that allows residents to learn directly how to care for their historical collections. This step is considered strategic to keep artifacts in the NTB area, while building awareness of history early on.
Several villages in NTB have developed village museums such as the Village Heritage Museum in West Lombok Regency and the Ganggelang Village Museum in North Lombok Regency. These two places are examples of how cultural conservation can be in line with the development of tourism and local economics.
"If the village museum is connected to tourist villages, then the economic potential and community empowerment will also grow," concluded Nuralam.