Public Perception of the Role of Regional Leaders in Preserving Benjang Mask Culture

Abstract

Traditional art is a performance that results from the legacy of previous ancestors. This traditional art must be maintained in its integrity. Traditional art has a massive role for a nation or country, namely as a national identity, where the identity is representative of the national identity and a symbol that the country has cultural purity. However, now in an era of rapid development, traditional arts are on the brink of extinction. This is because traditional arts must be able to survive in foreign cultures whose influence is absorbed by the Indonesian people more quickly. With this, the role or support of all parties involved is essential. The purpose of this study is to understand how the public's perception of the role of regional leaders or local governments in terms of preserving the culture of Benjang (Topeng Benjang). The research method applied in this study is a qualitative method with the type of literature study and interviews. The results of the study indicate that there are several roles of regional leaders or local governments in the preservation of Benjang Topeng, namely the roles of ownership, innovation, education, coaching, legality, and facilitators.