Klaten, May 9, 2026 — Universitas Gadjah Mada conducted a community empowerment program entitled “Preservation and Sustainability of the Tatah Sungging Wayang Kulit Tradition in Butuh Village, Sidowarno, Wonosari, Klaten through Capacity Building and Exhibition of Community Flagship Products” on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
The program was held in Dusun Butuh, Sidowarno Village, Wonosari District, Klaten Regency, a region that has been widely recognized since the 1960s as one of the centers of Surakarta-style tatah sungging wayang kulit craftsmanship. Despite its rich cultural heritage, the traditional leather puppet carving and painting industry in the area has experienced significant challenges due to industrial transformation in surrounding areas, limited regeneration of artisans, restricted access to capital, and insufficient technical knowledge regarding puppet production and leather processing.
Through this initiative, UGM aimed to support the preservation and sustainability of the traditional tatah sungging industry while empowering local artisans and tourism stakeholders. The program also sought to increase public awareness and appreciation of Surakarta-style wayang kulit craftsmanship as a valuable cultural and economic asset.
The activity was conducted collaboratively by several faculties within UGM, including the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Faculty of Animal Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, and Faculty of Social and Political Sciences. From the Faculty of Pharmacy, the program was coordinated by Dr. apt. Agustina Ari Murti Budi Hastuti, M.Sc.
One of the featured sessions included a material presentation delivered by Puguh Indrasetiawan, who shared insights as part of the interdisciplinary empowerment activities.
The program addressed several strategic objectives, including introducing the scientific and cultural dimensions of Surakarta-style wayang kulit traditions to local artisans and tourism actors, such as tourism village administrators, social media managers, tourism awareness groups (Pokdarwis), and local guides. The activities also aimed to encourage younger generations in Butuh Village to continue developing the tatah sungging tradition through educational outreach and participatory learning methods.
In addition, the initiative focused on improving artisans’ technical capabilities and production efficiency by enriching carving motifs, coloring techniques (sungging), patterns (blak), and wanda variations to enhance competitiveness and increase the economic value of local products. Participants were also introduced to a deeper understanding of the visual concepts characteristic of Surakarta-style wayang kulit as the cultural identity of Wayang Tourism Village Butuh, Sidowarno, Klaten.
As part of the community empowerment effort, the program also promoted local tatah sungging products through media exposure, exhibitions, and product showcases held in strategic venues to expand public recognition at the national level.
This initiative contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty) through community economic empowerment, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through strengthening creative cultural industries and local employment opportunities, and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) through innovation and sustainable development of traditional craft industries.
