Promoting Indonesia through Literature and Culture

The Lontar Foundation of Jakarta is the only publisher in the world to have as its primary goal the promotion of knowledge about Indonesia through Indonesian literature in translation. Since its founding in 1987 Lontar has concentrated its efforts on creating a 'market' for Indonesian literature abroad through the steady publication of Indonesian literary titles in English translation and through public events - readings, educational programs, conferences, tours, and other activities.

In this way Lontar has laid the groundwork necessary for the wide-scale acceptance of Indonesian literature abroad. The Foundation is now confident that if it can build up a sufficiently large endowment, it will, within a relatively short time, achieve its goal of bringing into print a list of literary titles large enough to enable any educational institution (where English is the language of instruction) to offer courses on Indonesian literature and culture. This Lontar views as the first stage in the placement of Indonesian literary translations in the world's bookstores and recognition of Indonesia as a strategic and multifaceted culture in the international public's mind.