Museum Nasional Education & Promotion Effort in Digital Era
In September 2015 we had activities at Museum Nasional Republic of Indonesia. Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen (BG) is an independent institution established for the purpose of promoting research in the arts and sciences, especially in the fields of biology, physics, archeology, literature, ethnology and history. This institution has the slogan "Ten Nutte van het Algemeen" (For the Interest of the Public). One of the founders of this institution, namely JCM Radermacher, donated a house owned by him on Jalan Kalibesar, a trading area in Jakarta-Kota. Except that he also donated a number of collections of cultural objects and books that are very useful, Radermacher's contribution is the forerunner of the establishment of museums and libraries.
During the period of British rule on Java (1811-1816), Lieutenant Governor Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles became Director of this association. Because the house in Kalibesar was full of collections, Raffles ordered the construction of a new building to be used as a museum and meeting room for Literary Society (formerly called the "Societeit de Harmonie" building). This building is located on Majapahit street number 3. Now in this place stands the complex of the State Secretariat building, near the Presidential Palace. The number of BG's collections continues to increase until the museum on Jalan Majapahit can no longer accommodate the collection.
In 1862, the Dutch East Indies government decided to build a new museum building in its current location, namely Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat No. 12 (formerly called Koningsplein West). The land covers an area which is then built by the Rechst Hogeschool building or "Law College" (once used for the Kenpetai headquarters during the Japanese occupation, and now the Department of Defense and Security). The museum building was only opened to the public in 1868.
Museum Collection Type
The National Museum collects many ancient objects from all over the archipelago. Among other things including collections are ancient statues, inscriptions, other ancient objects and craft items. The collections are categorized into ethnography, bronze, prehistory, ceramics, textiles, numismatics, historical relics, and valuable objects.
Notes on the National Museum of the Republic of Indonesia website in 2001 showed that the collection had reached 109,342 pieces. The number of collections makes this museum known as the most complete in Indonesia. In 2006 the number of museum collections had exceeded 140,000, although only one third could be shown to the public.
Many collection sources come from archaeological excavations, collector grants since the Dutch East Indies period and purchases. Indonesian ceramic collections and ethnographic collections in this museum are quite complete.
In the era of digital information technology, its use for museums now has a very important function and role. With the aim to further disseminate knowledge as well as promotion to the entire Indonesian nation which is spread on several islands, especially outside Java and also internationally.
With just one click on the address http://museumnasional.indonesiaheritage.org through a browser that is connected to the internet network, anyone can easily access objects and spaces that are displayed in the National Museum virtually without space or time.