Who Receives Public Art Funding? Distributive Justice in Indonesia's Government-Supported Arts Programs

Abstract

Public funding plays an important role in sustaining artistic production, cultural institutions, festivals, and community-based arts programs in Indonesia. However, the distribution of public arts funding may raise concerns regarding transparency, geographic concentration, institutional access, and unequal opportunities among established and emerging artists. This article examines distributive justice in government-supported arts funding in Indonesia. Using normative juridical and policy analysis, the study evaluates public funding mechanisms, eligibility requirements, selection procedures, transparency standards, and accountability mechanisms. The article argues that formally neutral funding criteria may nevertheless produce unequal outcomes when emerging artists, rural communities, and informal art collectives lack the administrative capacity required to access funding programs. The study proposes a more inclusive public arts funding framework incorporating transparent criteria, simplified application procedures, regional equity, targeted support for underrepresented communities, and publicly accessible funding data. Participatory evaluation mechanisms should also be introduced to strengthen accountability. The article concludes that public arts funding should be assessed not only by financial accountability but also by its distributive consequences. A justice-oriented funding system should expand access to cultural resources and ensure that public investment in the arts benefits a diverse range of artists and communities across Indonesia.