Yuli Andari Merdikaningtyas
Yuli Andari Merdikaningtyas, Head of Bala Datu Ranga Museum in Sumbawa, Indonesia.
She initiated Bala Datu Ranga Museum in 2019 and officially recognised by the people in 2022. Her motivation out of a deep concern for the traditional wooden houses of Sumbawa, which are now on the verge of extinction. Bala Datu Ranga built in 1886 and was the residence of her late grandfather, Datu Ranga Abdul Madjid Daeng Matutu (1901-1979)—the last *Ranga* (a position equivalent to Prime Minister) during the era of the Sumbawa Sultanate.
Before dedicating herself to managing the museum, she has been worked as a certified documentary filmmaker and served as a member of the Cultural Heritage Expert Team for Sumbawa Regency. For her, transforming Bala Datu Ranga into a house museum is a way to preserve collective memory and restore the house’s connection with the surrounding community, ensuring it remains a vibrant "living heritage". Under her leadership, the Museum Bala Datu Ranga has steadily progressed, establishing itself as one of the prominent museums in the province of West Nusa Tenggara. She has opened up museum as a creative collaborative space which brings together communities, universities, artists, cultural activist, businesses actors, the media and governments to work together in collaboration. Museum Bala Datu Ranga hosts several impactful public programs, and is frequently invited to attend national conferences and international webinars held by the government of Indonesia, museum associations, and ICOM to share their experience. Currently, the Bala Datu Ranga Museum is officially registered as a specialized museum (house museum) in Indonesia and it is also a member of ICOM DEMHIST.
