Uluan Nughik Cultural City

Uluan Nughik Cultural City: Epicenter of Tulang Bawang Barat's Cultural Future

Amidst the landscape of Tulang Bawang Barat (Tubaba) Regency, Lampung Province, stands an area that is not merely a geographical coordinate but a philosophical manifestation of life. Uluan Nughik Cultural City, which literally means "The Beginning of Life," is a cultural center designed as an intellectual and spiritual oasis. This area is not just a replica of the past but a living laboratory where Lampung traditions dialogue with modernity and future visions.

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Philosophy and Vision: Returning to the Beginning of Life

The establishment of Uluan Nughik is based on the desire to return humans to their essence: living in harmony with nature and fellow beings. Under visionary leadership in Tubaba, this area was built using sustainable materials, dominated by recycled old wood and breathable vernacular architecture. The name "Uluan Nughik" reflects the spirit of restarting a civilization rooted in the noble values of "Nenemo" (Nemen, Nedes, Nerimo)—a principle of hard work, perseverance, and sincerity that forms the foundation of the local community's character.

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Architecture as a Cultural Medium

Every building in Uluan Nughik is a work of art. The sturdy wooden stilt houses here are not just aesthetic objects but functional spaces for cultural activities. The architecture adopts the structure of traditional Lampung houses but with a minimalist contemporary touch. The use of salvaged materials from old buildings from various regions in Lampung gives soul to every corner of this cultural city. This is a tangible form of preserving physical heritage in collaboration with ecological awareness.

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Preservation of Traditional and Contemporary Arts

Uluan Nughik Cultural City is home to various types of traditional Lampung arts. Here, visitors and locals can witness and learn about:

1. Dance Arts: Regular training in Tari Sigeh Pengunten, Tari Cangget, and various new creative dances based on traditional movements. The focus is not only on the aesthetics of movement but on understanding the philosophical meaning behind every flick of the finger and step.

2. Music Arts: The melodies of traditional Lampung percussion music, such as Tala Balak and Kulintang, often resonate in this area. Uluan Nughik also frequently becomes a space for musical experimentation where traditional instruments are combined with modern music elements.

3. Oral Literature: Efforts to revive "Padiangan," or Lampung oral literature, are carried out through poetry reading sessions and folk theater. This is crucial to ensure that the mother tongue is not lost to the erosion of time.

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Educational Programs and Community Engagement

One of Uluan Nughik's main pillars is its role as a non-formal education center. This area hosts the "Sekolah Seni Tubaba" (Tubaba Art School) program, an initiative that involves local youth in learning directly from national and international art masters.

Educational programs here include:

• Craft Workshops: Training in making handicrafts based on bamboo and clay, as well as developing more modern Tapis weaving motifs without abandoning the original patterns.
• Cultural Literacy: Regular discussions on local history, ecological values, and sustainable architecture, open to the public.
• Artist Residency Program: Uluan Nughik regularly invites artists from various disciplines to live and work in Tubaba. The interaction between external artists and local residents creates dynamic cultural exchange and enriches the local community's perspective.

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Cultural Events and International Festivals

As a cultural magnet, Uluan Nughik hosts various large-scale events. The most prominent is the Tubaba Art Festival (TAF). This annual festival serves as a platform for local artists to showcase their talents and a stage for international artists.

During this festival, Uluan Nughik transforms into a giant stage. Open-air theater performances, art installations displayed among the wooden houses, and traditional Lampung culinary workshops are the main attractions. This festival is not just entertainment but a statement that Tubaba, through Uluan Nughik, is ready to become a key player on the global cultural map.

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Heritage Preservation and Environmental Sustainability

The uniqueness of Uluan Nughik lies in its approach to cultural heritage. Heritage is not viewed as inanimate objects in a museum but as living practices. The replanting of endemic Lampung trees around the area is part of preserving agrarian culture. The community is taught that protecting forests and water is an inseparable part of safeguarding Lampung's cultural identity.

Furthermore, systematic efforts are made to document ancient carving patterns and traditional construction techniques applied to new buildings within the area. This ensures that local wisdom continues to circulate to future generations.

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Role in Local Cultural Development

Uluan Nughik has successfully transformed the image of Tulang Bawang Barat from merely an administrative region into a prestigious cultural tourism destination. This cultural center functions as a "third space"—a place where people from various ethnic backgrounds in Lampung (such as Javanese, Balinese, and Lampungese themselves) meet and collaborate.

The existence of Uluan Nughik drives the growth of the creative economy. Local MSMEs engaged in traditional culinary and craft businesses gain space to market their products, especially during major events. This proves that culture can be an engine of economic prosperity if managed with the right vision.

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Towards a New Civilization

Uluan Nughik Cultural City is an ambitious social experiment. Here, values of simplicity, environmental sustainability, and boundless creativity are tested. Uluan Nughik teaches that to move forward into the future, we do not have to turn our backs on the past. Instead, the past is the foundation that provides the strength to leap further.

With all its activities, from daily art training to international festivals, Uluan Nughik remains steadfast in its principle as the "Beginning of Life." It serves as a reminder to every visitor that culture is the very breath of life, and in Tubaba, that breath blows strongly through every wooden pillar and the friendly smiles of its people in Uluan Nughik Cultural City. This area does not belong only to Lampung but is a valuable contribution to the cultural richness of Indonesia and the world.