Ullen Sentalu Museum is a private institution committed to preserving and promoting the history, art, and culture of Java. The continuous development of Javanese civilisation—from the Hindu-Buddhist and Islamic eras to the present day—has shaped its distinctive art and culture, now recognised as intangible heritage.
To safeguard this intangible cultural heritage, Ullen Sentalu Museum creates its collections through academic research and designs storytelling-based tours led by museum educators.
The name Ullen Sentalu is an abbreviation of the Javanese phrase ulating blencong sejatining tataraning lumaku, meaning “the shimmering light that guides one’s righteous path.” This phrase also embodies the museum’s guiding philosophy.
In 2023, Ullen Sentalu Museum launched its latest tour, focusing on the continuous historical timeline of Java. Following eight years of research, the museum offers a renewed approach to narrating Javanese history—from the prehistoric era through to Indonesia’s independence. The gallery is named Skriptorium, reflecting its foundation on academic scripts which form the basis of the museum’s collections. These narratives are brought to life through storytelling by museum educators.
