Tanjungpandan Senior High School (SMAN 1 Tanjungpandan) once again brought creativity and culture to life through the annual Literature and Language Festival, held on October 2, 2025, at the scenic Tanjung Pendam Beach. The festival highlighted how literacy can go beyond books and reading, it can also be expressed through performing arts and cultural creativity.
The main events of the festival included theater competitions and cultural performances, such as traditional Malay creative dances, choir presentations, and the energetic “Gelora Nusa” dance performance. Each performance carried a message about the importance of art and language as a bridge between generations and a way to introduce Belitong’s cultural richness to wider audiences.
Through this festival, students were encouraged to explore language and literature as tools of self-expression and cultural preservation. It became a space where young people could blend imagination with identity, showing that literacy is not limited to reading comprehension, it also includes understanding, interpretation, and expression through art.
During the event, Arry Aditsya Yoga delivered a special a half hour talk on the importance of literacy within the context of the geopark. He emphasized that literacy is one of the main pillars of sustainable development, especially in regions rich in natural and cultural heritage like Belitung.
According to Arry, without strong literacy and a comprehensive understanding of the environment, the mission to protect geological and cultural heritage would be difficult to achieve. He encouraged students to become ambassadors of knowledge and sustainability by learning more about their local environment and expressing it through literature, storytelling, and cultural works.
The festival atmosphere at Tanjung Pendam Beach reflected the beauty of collaboration between education, culture, and environmental awareness. The open-air setting allowed participants and audiences to appreciate Belitung’s natural charm while celebrating creativity and intellect.
The Literature and Language Festival not only nurtures a love for art and literature among students but also aligns with Belitong Geopark’s educational mission to integrate culture, environment, and community engagement through learning and creativity.
Correspondence Author: Tri Wibowo