The symposium, themed “Yogyakarta is the Capital of Literary Books,” brought together over 50 participants for a series of discussions.
The Taman Budaya Yogyakarta on 13 February hosted a successful Sarasehan Sastra (Literary Symposium), showcasing the city’s vibrant literary scene.
The symposium, themed “Yogyakarta is the Capital of Literary Books,” brought together over 50 participants for a series of discussions.
Exploring Yogyakarta’s Literary Ecosystem
The symposium examined the roles of writers, publishers, booksellers, readers, and literary archives, highlighting the city’s rich cultural landscape and the crucial role of literature within it.
Celebrating Yogyakarta’s Literary Hub
Latief Setia Nugraha, Coordinator of the 2025 Literature Symposium ,explained: “This year, we focussed the symposium on this theme to reignite a discussion about Yogyakarta’s rich cultural landscape and the crucial role of literature within it.”
The Sarasehan Sastra 2025 aimed to celebrate and solidify Yogyakarta’s position as a dynamic hub for book activities in Indonesia. With a thriving publishing ecosystem involving writers, readers, universities, and booksellers, Yogyakarta has cultivated a vibrant literary environment.
Inspiring Action and Raising Awareness
The symposium also aimed to raise public awareness about the importance of literature and foster new initiatives to further develop Yogyakarta’s literary world. Additionally, the event served as a fitting tribute to Yogyakarta’s 270th anniversary, recognising books as a cornerstone of the city’s rich history and culture.
Preserving Literary Heritage
Prominent literary figures, including Indrian Koto, Bagas Setia Wicaksana, and Sukandar, emphasised the crucial role of preserving Javanese literature.
They also discussed the evolving dynamics of the book publishing industry within the broader context of Indonesian literature. Sukandar (Cak Kandar), owner of Interlude Book Publishing, highlighted Yogyakarta’s unique literary ecosystem: “What makes Yogyakarta special is that publishers can also be writers, and writers can also be booksellers.“
Read more at Radio Republik Indonesia.
This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.
