A designer from Bali and a craft community in Burgundy don’t look like an obvious match. But in the 2026–2027 season, they will work side by side and learn each other’s methods. This residency is one of the projects behind the France Indonesia creative economy cooperation that the French Embassy showed in Jakarta this October.

The Embassy of France in Indonesia and Institut français d’Indonésie (IFI) took part in the 5th World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE 2026) in Jakarta, held from 21 to 23 October 2026. They presented two programs, PINTU Indonesian–French Fashion Incubator and Artist Designer in Residence (ADIR), at the Creative Village in the SCBD area from 21 to 25 October. No ticket price was announced in the official press release.

At a glance

•  21–25 October 2026: Creative Village, SCBD, Jakarta
• 10: designers and brands in the PINTU 2026 incubation program
•  150: restaurants in the France–Indonesia Gastronomy Week
•  11: ASEAN member states in the new Creative ASEAN network
  
  

What is WCCE 2026?

WCCE 2026 is a three-day conference that brings together governments, international organizations, academics, and private companies. The question on the table is simple: how can the creative economy help countries grow? France came with answers it has already been testing in Indonesia.

What is the Borobudur Declaration?

Everything starts with a document. On 29 May 2025, President Emmanuel Macron and President Prabowo Subianto adopted the Borobudur Declaration on Joint Cultural Strategy during Macron’s state visit to Indonesia. It sets a framework for joint projects and creative networks. On 22 April 2026, the French and Indonesian Ministers of Culture met in Paris and reaffirm

What is the PINTU Fashion Incubator?

PINTU launched in 2022 and helps young designers through mentoring, training, and international exchange. The 2026 edition supports ten designers and brands. It also adds a twist: a residency that connects French and Indonesian designers with artisan communities. Here’s the surprise. This fashion program isn’t about faster trends. It asks how slow, traditional craft can shape clothes people want to wear today.

What is Artist Designer in Residence (ADIR)?

ADIR puts designers in unfamiliar places to work with local materials and traditional knowledge. Its 2026–2027 edition links Bali and Burgundy in a cross-residency. Indonesian and French creators will visit each other’s artisan communities, so the learning goes both ways.

How does Creative ASEAN fit in?

France also looked beyond its partnership with Indonesia. Creative ASEAN launched in Jakarta on 10 September 2026, backed by the ASEAN-France Fund. It connects France with all 11 ASEAN member states through residencies, exchanges, and training. It covers design, fashion, film, music, gaming, and animation.

Business is part of the picture too. In April 2026, ICC Immersion Indonesia brought 12 French cultural and creative companies to Indonesia to look for partners and meet local institutions and industry players.

Where does food come into the creative economy?

Food was a big part of the program. From 23 September to 4 October 2026, the French Embassy and IFI ran Rendez-vous Rasa: France–Indonesia Gastronomy Week with partners including Disciples Escoffier Indonesia. Around 150 restaurants across Indonesia took part.

At WCCE, the Embassy and IFI joined “WCCE Gathering in the Sky” on 22 October, a gala dinner that mixed international cooking traditions with Indonesian ingredients. AMUZ, a French restaurant in Jakarta led by Chef Gilles Marx, who is also President of Disciples Escoffier Indonesia, was among the restaurants serving the meal.

Why does this matter?

Political declarations often stay on paper. This one has dates, cities, and people attached to it. For Indonesian designers, makers, and chefs, it means mentoring, travel, and new contacts in France and across Southeast Asia.