UMAC launches flagship arts training program with Indonesia
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UMAC launches flagship arts training program with Indonesia
The group of Indonesian theatre makers arrived in Melbourne on Monday and toured the Arts and Cultural Building in Parkville. Photo credit: University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne Arts and Culture (UMAC) has launched IndoTekno, a flagship training program welcoming Indonesian theatre production professionals to Melbourne for hands-on learning and creative exchange.
Delivered in collaboration with the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), Asialink, Turning World, and supported by the Victorian Government, the program builds on the strong cultural and educational partnership between Victoria and the Special Region of Yogyakarta in Indonesia.
IndoTekno opens doors for mid-career Indonesian theatre technicians and production managers to gain international experience, develop their technical and creative skills, and expand their professional networks across Melbourne’s creative sector.
Over the next four weeks, participants will take part in workshops at the University of Melbourne and learn directly from industry experts through tailored placements with leading Victorian arts companies.
Indonesian production professionals at the inaugural IndoTekno Scenography and Design Workshop at Gelanggang Inovasi & Kreativitas UGM in Yogyakarta (25-27 September 2025). Photo: Agung Prasetyo.
This pilot program develops participants’ technical and management expertise while deepening cultural understanding and shared learnings between Australia and Indonesia. After returning home, participants will share their knowledge with peers in Indonesia, helping to expand skills and create opportunities across their communities and the broader arts sector.
Professor Michael Wesley, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global, Culture and Engagement), said IndoTekno underscores Australia’s commitment to deepening ties with Indonesia and acknowledges the key role of creative exchange in regional partnership.
“By supporting programs like IndoTekno, the University of Melbourne affirms its role as a convenor of knowledge, cultural exchange, and innovation in Asia and the Pacific,” Professor Wesley said.
“Cultural collaboration like this not only enriches our artistic sectors but also fosters the deeper mutual understanding that is vital to our region’s stability and prosperity”.
IndoTekno Scenography and Design Workshop at Gelanggang Inovasi & Kreativitas UGM in Yogyakarta. Photo: Agung Prasetyo.
Professor Emma Redding, Director of the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), highlighted the program's potential for fostering mutual growth and collaboration between Indonesian and Australian creative communities.
“IndoTekno creates a platform for Indonesian professionals to enhance their skills, exchange ideas, and expand their global networks, contributing to both their personal careers and local communities. Simultaneously, it offers Melbourne's creative sector valuable opportunities to engage with and learn from Indonesian colleagues, nurturing cross-cultural artistic partnerships and driving innovation,” Professor Redding noted.
IndoTekno is one of the first programs delivered under the Victoria–Yogyakarta Memorandum of Understanding, with funding provided by the Victorian Government.
Caron Shaine, IntoTekno participant. Photo credit: The University of Melbourne
One of the participants, Caron Shaine, an Indonesian production and stage manager, said the group is excited to learn from Melbourne’s creative scene.
“It’s such a special chance to experience production culture away from home. The fact that the program is tailor-made for each of us truly enriches our learning experience.”
IndoTekno forms part of a wider vision from the University of Melbourne and its partners to deepen Australia–Indonesia relations, recognising Indonesia’s creative strengths and supporting ongoing collaboration.
For over 70 years, the University of Melbourne has welcomed Indonesian students, who now form its second-largest international student cohort.
With 46 active institutional partnerships covering research, teaching, student mobility, and innovation, the University continues to strengthen genuine and mutually beneficial ties between the two countries.