Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia has nominated itself for a seat on UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage for the 2026–2030 term, aiming to strengthen its role in global cultural diplomacy, officials said.The bid was presented during the 224th session of UNESCO’s Executive Board in Paris on Thursday, as part of efforts to expand Indonesia’s influence in international cultural policy.Culture Minister Fadli Zon outlined Indonesia’s vision under the theme “Living Heritage, Shared Future” before around 300 delegates from member states and the UNESCO secretariat.He emphasized Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening community-based safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, promoting equal cooperation and expanding access to international support for developing countries.As part of the cultural diplomacy effort, Indonesia showcased the Pendet dance and gamelan music at the forum.The Pendet dance is part of the “Three Genres of Traditional Balinese Dance,” inscribed on UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list in 2015, while gamelan was added to the list in 2021.Indonesia also proposed establishing an Asia-Pacific Center for Community-Based Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage as a UNESCO Category 2 center to be based in the country.The proposed center is intended to enhance regional capacity in cultural preservation, knowledge exchange and cross-border cooperation.Officials said the nomination marks a strategic opportunity to strengthen Indonesia’s position in shaping global cultural policies while building support among UNESCO member states.The Indonesian delegation included Director General for Cultural Diplomacy, Promotion and Cooperation Endah T.D. Retnoastuti, Director of Diplomacy Raden Usman Effendi, and Head of Museums and Cultural Heritage Esti Nurjadin.Active participation in UNESCO forums is expected to bolster Indonesia’s candidacy and reinforce its role in multilateral cultural cooperation.The government said it will continue engaging member states to secure backing for the bid ahead of the election process.Indonesia has increasingly used cultural diplomacy to promote its heritage globally while advocating inclusive and community-driven preservation approaches.