Repositioning Women Through Gendered Innovation in the Post-mining Cultural Economy of a UNESCO Heritage City in Indonesia

Women in post-mining cities are sometimes characterized as artists or custodians of heritage. However, their contributions are mostly overlooked in cultural economic policy. This study investigates how women in Sawahlunto, a former coal mining town that has evolved into a cultural economy zone and UNESCO historic site, develop gendered innovations to enhance their socio-economic positions. The inaugural effort is the Silungkang songket training program, established in 2012 by the Department of Industry and Trade and UPTD Tekstil. It enhances women’s technical skills, links them to wholesalers and digital markets, and preserves weaving history. The initiative is bolstered by the SISSCa (Sawahlunto International Songket Silungkang Carnival), acknowledged since 2021 in the Kharisma Event Nusantara calendar, which amplifies global recognition for female weavers. The creation of “Kampung Dolas Songket” at Lunto Timur Village in April 2024, with the support of PT Semen Padang, signifies a concrete gendered innovation. Women’s enterprises have experienced monthly income growth of up to 65% due to enhancements in infrastructure, weaving facilities, and tourism-oriented marketing. Third, during the COVID-19 pandemic, women previously employed as coal scavengers transitioned to roles in catering, baking, and community services. This demonstrated their capacity to transform the informal economy. This research employs descriptive qualitative methods, participatory observation, and policy analysis to demonstrate that women-led projects not only safeguard history but also enhance social and economic status. However, institutional shortcomings persist, particularly inadequate gender-responsive frameworks and weak sustainability procedures. The research indicates that class, gender, and colonial industries continue to restrict women’s autonomy when examined via an intersectional perspective.