Electronic Theses and Dissertation

Indonesia merupakan negara dengan jumlah penduduk Muslim terbesar di dunia, dan Aceh tercatat sebagai daerah pertama yang menerima kedatangan Islam. Penyebaran Islam di Aceh terjadi melalui jalur perdagangan, perkawinan, budaya, dan tradisi masyarakat, menjadikan wilayah ini sebagai titik sentral pertemuan berbagai peradaban. Salah satu bentuk ekspresi keagamaan yang berkembang dari proses ini adalah seni kaligrafi Islam. Meskipun memiliki sejarah yang kuat dan peran penting dalam penyebaran Islam, seni kaligrafi di Aceh menghadapi tantangan serius, seperti kurangnya fasilitas edukasi, minimnya ruang bagi para seniman, serta rendahnya partisipasi dalam kompetisi tingkat nasional dan internasional. Selain itu, kurangnya pengakuan terhadap seniman lokal menyebabkan banyak kaligrafer Aceh berkembang di luar daerah asalnya. Data kunjungan wisatawan ke Aceh menunjukkan potensi besar dalam pengembangan wisata edukatif berbasis seni dan sejarah Islam, namun belum terdapat museum atau pusat seni kaligrafi yang representatif. Penelitian ini menekankan pentingnya pendirian museum seni kaligrafi yang terintegrasi dengan pusat pengembangan dan edukasi sebagai solusi strategis untuk melestarikan warisan budaya Islam di Aceh. Museum ini diharapkan menjadi ruang ekspresi, edukasi, serta pelestarian seni kaligrafi, yang juga mampu mendorong lahirnya generasi baru yang siap berkompetisi di level nasional maupun internasional. Kolaborasi antara pemerintah, lembaga budaya, dan masyarakat menjadi kunci keberhasilan dalam menjaga keberlanjutan seni kaligrafi dan identitas keislaman Aceh.
Kata kunci: Aceh, seni kaligrafi, sejarah Islam, pelestarian budaya, museum kaligrafi.

Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, and Aceh is historically recognized as the first region to embrace Islam. The spread of Islam in Aceh occurred through trade, intermarriage, and the cultural traditions of its people, positioning the region as a strategic crossroads of civilizations. One significant religious artistic expression that emerged from this process is Islamic calligraphy. Despite its deep historical roots and vital role in the propagation of Islam, the development of calligraphic art in Aceh faces several challenges, including a lack of educational facilities, limited space for artists to collaborate, and low participation in national and international competitions. Additionally, the lack of recognition for local artists has led many Acehnese calligraphers to thrive outside their home region, often under the name of other areas. Data on tourist visits to Aceh indicates considerable potential for educational tourism based on Islamic art and history; however, the absence of a dedicated museum or Islamic calligraphy center remains a significant gap. This study emphasizes the urgent need to establish a museum of Islamic calligraphy integrated with a development and educational center as a strategic solution for preserving Islamic cultural heritage in Aceh. Such an institution is expected to serve as a hub for artistic expression, education, and preservation of Islamic calligraphy, while also fostering a new generation of calligraphers capable of competing at both national and international levels. Collaborative efforts among the government, cultural institutions, and the community are essential to ensuring the sustainability of calligraphy art and Islamic identity in Aceh. Keywords: Aceh, calligraphy art, Islamic history, cultural preservation, calligraphy museum.