Jember, November 3, 2024 – The Student Association of Social Welfare (HIMAKES) of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Jember, successfully held a creative economy development event, the Batik Festival 2024, in early November. Held at the Soedjarwo Building, this inaugural event, initiated by the Creative Economy Department, merged culture, education, and creativity under the theme “Preserving Local Wisdom for the Future.” The festival involved multi-stakeholders, including students, the general public, government agencies, and collaborated with 14 Batik communities in Jember Regency. The event also served as a promotional platform for 14 local batik designers, including Hariyani Batik, Nisfi Batik, and Sekar Waru Batik.
Moh. Rizky Ramadhan, the Head of the Creative Economy Department of HIMAKES and the Head of the Batik Festival 2024 Organizing Committee, stated, “This festival is essentially our effort as students to pioneer and increase public understanding, together with batik enthusiasts in Jember. It aims to encourage students and the community to become agents of change who can optimize the potential of batik MSMEs to compete in the global market.”
The Batik Festival talkshow featured speakers such as Mr. Ilham, an academic, and Mr. Soediono from the Batik Community. The talkshow successfully opened a discussion on the importance of preserving batik in the face of globalization. It was followed by a fashion show showcasing the works of 14 local designers, including Hariyani Batik, Sang Nara Batik, and Rubung Kuning Batik. The fashion show served as an appreciation for Jember batik crafts and an opportunity to introduce local batik to the audience.
The event concluded with a batik-making workshop, where participants gained firsthand experience in creating batik. This workshop not only served as an educational tool but also encouraged public appreciation of the creative process. Moh. Rizky Ramadhan reiterated his hope that this festival would not only be an appreciation event for local batik but also develop and continue as a platform that can uplift MSMEs from various sectors, making it a means for students to strengthen the creative economy both on campus and in Jember Regency.
With the success of this inaugural event, HIMAKES aims to make the Batik Festival an annual event. The hope is that this festival can expand its reach, not only elevating batik as a symbol of local wisdom but also empowering other MSMEs to become more well-known and competitive on a global scale.