Rethinking Archival Governance Beyond Formal Regulation: Insights from Indonesian Art Institutions

Background Archival governance is commonly conceptualised through regulatory frameworks and standardised procedures designed for relatively stable bureaucratic organisations. Yet archival practices within art institutions are often shaped by artistic activities, institutional histories, and everyday organisational needs that extend beyond formal administrative requirements. In Indonesia, formal archival governance is largely reflected in Archival Law No. 43 of 2009, which draws upon assumptions associated with the records life cycle model. While this framework provides an important foundation for archival management, it offers limited explanations for archival practices that emerge within art institutions. Methods This study examines archival governance in three Indonesian art institutions—Padepokan Seni Bagong Kussudiardja, Selasar Sunaryo Art Space, and Studio Kalahan—through a qualitative multiple case study based on semi-structured interviews, observations, and documentary materials. Results The findings suggest that archival governance in these institutions is assembled through processes of institutional bricolage. Rather than resulting from direct compliance with formal archival standards, sustainable archival arrangements develop through the interaction of three interconnected dynamics: individual initiative, artistic practice as archival logic, and the practical adaptation of available resources to changing organisational circumstances. Together, these processes enable institutions to preserve artistic legacies, maintain organisational continuity, and support the ongoing production of cultural knowledge. The study argues that archival governance in Indonesian art institutions should not be understood as an incomplete version of formal archival systems but as a legitimate form of institutional practice shaped by particular cultural and organisational contexts. By interpreting these empirical findings through the lens of institutional bricolage, the article contributes to broader discussions on archival governance and demonstrates that sustainable archival practices may emerge through multiple institutional pathways beyond formal regulation.