Malang, en.SERU.co.id – The East Java Provincial Government has expressed appreciation for Topeng Malangan artists who are beginning to revive after the traditional mask dance was placed in the nearly extinct arts category. The recovery is visible in the rising number of studios, active practitioners and public enthusiasm for performances.
Head of the East Java Culture and Tourism Agency (Disbudpar), Evy Afianasari ST MMA, said that in 2024 Topeng Malangan was recorded as one of the art forms in the nearly extinct category. The situation was not caused by a lack of artists, but by the limited stages and platforms available for them to perform.
“There are still many practitioners, but there were no stages and no platforms for them to be active,” Evy said during the presentation of appreciation to preservers of authentic East Java arts by the East Java Governor at Taman Krida Budaya Malang on Thursday, 20 August 2026.
Since 2024, East Java Disbudpar has worked to reactivate the Topeng Malangan ecosystem by strengthening studios and providing performance spaces. Those efforts are beginning to show progress.
Based on data from East Java Disbudpar, the number of active Topeng Malangan studios increased from 11 in 2025 to 15 in 2026. The number of active artists also grew, from around 390 in 2025 to 508 by August 2026.
The rise is also visible in audience numbers. Evy noted that Topeng Malangan performances once watched by around 200 people can now attract up to 2,800 spectators.
“This means young people now care about the authentic cultural wealth of East Java,” she said.
Nevertheless, Evy stressed that the increase in studios, artists and audiences does not automatically remove Topeng Malangan from the nearly extinct category. The availability of stages and performance platforms must still be assessed through a curation process to ensure the benefits are truly felt by the artists.
“We will see whether the existing platforms are already sufficient for Topeng Malangan artists to create more. But this cannot yet be said to have moved up from the nearly extinct category,” she said.
In addition to strengthening performance spaces, the East Java Provincial Government gave appreciation to 13 studios that had gone through a curation process. Twelve studios each received assistance of Rp5 million, while Sanggar Setia Utomo received support in the form of a full set of gamelan. The assistance was provided after the studios submitted proposals and completed the curation process.
Evy said the curation results showed that Sanggar Setia Utomo still faced limited facilities and infrastructure. However, the studio was assessed as having a strong commitment to maintaining the continuity of Topeng Malangan art.
“It has been curated that the studio is indeed limited in facilities and infrastructure, yet it has a strong commitment to preservation,” she explained.
Evy added that throughout 2026 the East Java Governor has given appreciation to around 1,000 artists. The activity at Taman Krida Budaya Malang specifically targeted practitioners and studios that are actively preserving Topeng Malangan.
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Topeng Malangan performances at Taman Krida Budaya Malang themselves are routinely held every 22nd of the month. Audience numbers approaching 3,000 people are considered an important capital for developing the art form while driving the creative economy ecosystem.
According to Evy, the preservation of Topeng Malangan can be developed through collaboration with other sectors. One example is community empowerment and environmental concern through the creation of creative products made from plastic bottle caps.
On the other side, Head of the Malang City Education and Culture Agency, Suwarjana, said Topeng Malangan is an icon and distinctive feature of Malang City as well as Greater Malang. The art form carries artistic value as well as social and noble values that are important to pass on to the next generation.
“Topeng Malangan has already become an icon and distinctive feature, not only of Malang City but of Malang in general or Greater Malang. Therefore, its preservation is also part of our attention,” Suwarjana said.
The Malang City Government, he continued, also provides support to studios through assistance with gamelan sets as well as facilities and infrastructure. The support is not only intended for Topeng Malangan studios but also for various other arts groups such as Bantengan, Jaranan and Hadrah.
In addition to material assistance, the Malang City Government provides space for artists to perform in various activities, including shows at a number of hotels. Suwarjana emphasized that assistance to studios is given through certain mechanisms and requirements. One of them is that a studio must have an identity and be registered with the local government.
“For assistance there are of course terms and conditions. Studios must have a registration number and be registered. So, there is a mechanism that must be fulfilled,” he concluded. (ws15/rhd)
Indonesian Version:
Pemprov Jatim Apresiasi Seniman Topeng Malangan Mulai Bangkit dari Kepunahan
