Established in 2005, Jatiwangi art Factory (JaF) is a community that embraces contemporary arts and cultural practices as parts of the local life discourse in a rural area.

A century ago, Jatiwangi began its clay industry, becoming the biggest roof-tile producing region in Southeast Asia. A hundred years later, in 2005, using the same clay, JaF encouraged the people of Jatiwangi to create a collective awareness and identity for their region through arts and cultural activity. JaF tries to cultivate clay with more dignity, to raise collective happiness through many programs involving the participation of the community.

Kota Terakota is the name given to the idea of developing Jatiwangi from its traditional background of roof-tile industry towards a new cultural identity for the future. Kota Terakota is point zero for Jatiwangi as the beginning of a new clay culture, a city based on the people’s desire and their collective agreement. Jatiwangi has the opportunity to transform its region through multiple perspectives, which is why Kota Terakota speaks not only about “terra” as a material, but also as land, territory, or idea.