Safeguarding Our Heritage

Museums in Indonesia are in very bad and worrying condition. Out of 275 museums throughout the country, only 200 can be deemed worth the while to visit. And even those may not necessarily be able to attract visitors. Many languish and gather dust, like an abandoned ghost town. This is why the few people who make the effort to maintain and manage museums to keep history and its artifacts alive, should be given due recognition. These dedicated groups of people in different parts of the country use their talents and their personal resources to preserve their respective local heritage. On the occasion of International Museum Day on May 18, Tempo English looks at small museums on Nias Island in Sumatra and in North Maluku province.