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Cultural Centres in Java
Cultural Centres in Java
The Erasmus Huis works together with three cultural centers on Java: Yayasan Karta Pustaka in Yogyakarta; Yayasan Widya Mitra in Semarang and the Yayasan Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Indonesia-Belanda in Surabaya. These are independent cultural centres that receive financial support from the Netherlands Embassy to promote the cultural exchange between the Netherlands and Indonesia and to present Dutch culture in co-operation with the Erasmus Huis. In Bandung the Erasmus Huis organises concerts and exhibitions together with among others the Technical University ITB and the Centre Culturel Français. Also in Solo, Dutch cultural activities are regularly organized.
The current cultural centre is a development from the Dutch library, which was a facility of the Dutch consulate in Semarang. It was frequented by people who spoke and read Dutch. In 1974 the consulate was officially closed, but the library was retained. Later on, Dutch language classes were held there. In 1993, thanks to the inspiring leadership of H. Soemario, who had been concerning himself with the teaching of Dutch in Semarang, a Dutch Department was added to the Akademi Bahasa 17 Agustus 1945 in Semarang.
YPKIB -abbreviation of Yayasan Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Indonesia-Belanda- was established on June 9, 1995. The occasion took place at the Shangrila Hotel in presence of Mrs. Dyah Ambarwaty Setyoso, a Notary in Surabaya, who then confirmed it by the Notarial Act No. 29.