Policies Supporting the Inward Mobility of Foreign Artists and Cultural Professionals to Indonesia

Several policies to support and facilitate the mobility of foreign artists and cultural professionals to carry out or perform creative activities and/or cultural activities in Indonesia, have been stipulated by the government throughout the 2016-2020 period. Some of the main relevant policies are:
1. Presidential Regulation 20 of 2018 on the Use of Foreign Workers;
2. Minister of Manpower Regulation 10 of 2018 on Procedures for the Use of Foreign Workers;
3. Minister of Manpower Decree 228 of 2019 on Certain Positions Permissible for Foreign Workers in the Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Categories.
4. Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Regulation 26 of 2014 on Impresarial Service Business Standards; and
5. Jakarta Provincial Government Regulation 3 of 2015 on Entertainment Taxes.

Presidential Regulation 20 of 2018 on the Use of Foreign Workers stipulates that social, religious, educational and cultural institutions as well as impresarial service businesses could become the employers of foreign workers after prioritizing the use of Indonesian workers in all types of positions available. Minister of Manpower Regulation 10 of 2018 on Procedures for the Use of Foreign Workers explains in more detail about the Impresariat Services Business which provides services in organizing entertainment activities in Indonesia, both by bringing in and sending temporary foreign workers in the arts and sports sectors. Furthermore, Minister of Manpower Decree 228 of 2019 on Certain Positions Permissible for Foreign Workers in the arts, entertainment and recreation categories states that the following positions may be occupied by foreign workers: performance managers, art directors, music directors, musicians, singers, DJs, film directors, actress/actors, lighting directors, dancers, and circus/acrobat performers.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Regulation Number 26 of 2014 on Impresarial Service Business Standards stipulates the Impresariat/Promoter Service Businesses as a business which provides services in entertainment activities by bringing in, sending, and returning both Indonesian and foreign artists and/or sportsmen, as well as in organizing the performances/events performed by the artists and/or sportsmen concerned. Each Impresariat/Promoter Service Business in Indonesia is required to meet the Impresariat/Promoter Service Business Standards and hold an official Certificate for Impresariat/Promoter Service Business and implement the rules and regulation concerning Impresariat/Promoter Service Business to ensure that the quality of products, services and business management meets the Impresariat/Promoter Service Business Standards. The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy also stated the government's support for the Impresariat/Promoter Services Business. In the event of micro businesses, small businesses, medium businesses and cooperatives are involved in the field of Impresariat/Promoters Business Services, the Ministry and/or Regional Government could provide and/or find administrative, institutional and funding support that is specific, for the purposes of facilitating the issuance of a Certificate for Impresariat/Promoter Service Business and/or supporting the process for acquiring the Impresariat/Promoter Service Business Certification.

At the regional level, one example of policies that support cultural expression activities is the Jakarta Provincial Government Regulation 3 of 2015 on Entertainment Taxes. For entertainment activities such as cinema, performing arts, music, dance, and/or fashion show as well as exhibitions, each is determined as follows: the tax rate for movie shows in the cinema is 0 percent; the tax rate for performing arts, music, dance, and/or fashion show is 0 percent (for local/traditional level), 5 percent (for national level), 15 percent (for international level); whereas the non-commercial exhibition tax is 0 percent and the commercial exhibition tax is 10 percent. The regulation regarding regional tax is aimed at preserving the expression of traditional and living culture held in a place that can be visited by all levels of society while maintaining good and competitive entertainment services.

In general, the cultural programmes and activities supporting the inward mobility of artists and cultural professionals to Indonesia are aimed at contributing to the realization of the following National Strategy for Culture (see Goal 1, Main Policies and Measures that Contain Strategies and Frameworks for the Development of the Integrated Cultural and Creative Economy Sector):
1. Provide space for the diversity of cultural expressions and encourage cultural interaction to strengthen the inclusiveness of culture (Agenda 1);
2. Develop and utilize cultural resources to strengthen the position of Indonesia internationally (Agenda 3);
3. Institutional reform and cultural budgeting to support the advancement of culture agenda (Agenda 6); and
4. Strengthen the role of government as facilitator in the advancement of culture (Agenda 7).