Creative Economic Empowerment through Batik Crafts as an Effort to Improve Community Welfare

Abstract

Community empowerment in batik villages is an effective strategy to improve community welfare through culture-based local economic development. This can be achieved through various efforts, including community capacity building, entrepreneurship development, digital technology utilization, and online marketing. However, the implementation of batik village community empowerment programs often faces various challenges that need to be overcome through support from various parties and continuous innovation. This research begins with an in-depth literature review on the concept of community empowerment, the creative economic potential of batik, and the factors that influence the welfare of local communities. The research methodology used involved a qualitative approach with data collection through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and documentation studies in the batik village. The results show that community empowerment through batik development has a positive impact on increasing the community's income, skills, and social participation. The research discussion analyzed the challenges and opportunities in batik village development, and formulated a sustainable empowerment strategy. The research conclusion emphasizes the importance of collaboration between the government, academia, private sector, and the community in supporting the development of batik villages as competitive creative economic centers and contributing to the improvement of overall community welfare. This research provides practical implications for the development of policies and community empowerment programs in batik villages as well as other areas with local creative economy potential.