Empowerment Strategy of Batik Artisan Groups as a Creative Economy Product to Improve the Group’s Well-Being

The batik industry has an important role in the creative economy, contributing to both cultural preservation and the improvement of community well-being. Despite its great potential, batik artisan groups in Central Java still face various challenges, such as a lack of product innovation, limited digital marketing capabilities, weak business institutions, restricted access to capital and partnerships, and a lack of interest among the younger generation in becoming artisans. This study aims to analyze the development of research on the empowerment of batik artisan groups during the 2016–2026 period, identify existing problems and potential, and formulate empowerment strategies to improve the well-being of these groups. The study employs a qualitative approach using a literature review of various national and international scientific articles discussing the empowerment of batik artisan groups, the creative economy, innovation, entrepreneurship, digital marketing, partnerships, and community well-being in batik centers across Central Java. The analysis used content analysis and descriptive-comparative analysis to identify research trends, dominant theories, and developments in empowerment strategies. The research showed that the development of this study could be divided into four phases: community capacity building (2016–2018), digital transformation and competitiveness (2019–2021), sustainable creative economy (2022–2024), and multi-stakeholder collaboration and improved well-being (2025–2026). This study proposes an empowerment strategy model that integrates human resource capacity building, product innovation based on local culture, digital transformation, institutional strengthening, multi-stakeholder partnerships (Collaborative Governance), and the application of green economy principles. This model should improve productivity, competitiveness, business sustainability, and the well-being of batik artisan groups while strengthening the role of batik as a culture-based creative economy product.