The opening ceremony of Lao-Thai Academic Collaboration Project in Art and Culture – a study trip and transfer of art and culture by means of academic articles
Saturday August 3, 2019, 13:30 p.m. at Khum Si Than, Art and Cultural Center, Khon Kaen University – An opening ceremony was held of the 6th Lao-Thai Academic Collaboration in Art and Culture: “Lan Chang Heritage”. The event was organized by Art and Cultural Center, Faculty of Fine and Applied Art of Khon Kaen University and the National Institute of Fine Art, Lao PDR. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Niyom Wongpongkham, Vice President for Arts, Culture and Community Relations presided over the ceremony. Dr. Kitti Sriraksa, Director of Art and Cultural Center conveyed the reporting speech. The event featured a talk by cultural experts including Prof. Santi Leksukhum, a member of the Royal Institute in the field of architecture and a visiting professor at Graduate School for fine and applied art program; Dr. Sunetr Pothisan, Loa PDR’s scholar, a former Director of Lao PDR National Museum, and a compiler of Laos history. The talk was moderated by Ajarn Witthaya Wuthithaisong, a cultural scholar of KKU Art and Cultural Center. The event continued with a ‘Bai Sri Su Khwan’ as a welcoming activity for participants from the National Institute of Fine Art, Lao PDR and participants from many institutes, followed by performances by KKU Laotian Student Club.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Niyom Wongpongkham, Vice President for Arts, Culture and Community Relations revealed that Lao-Thai Academic Collaboration in Art and Culture: “Lan Chang Heritage” was originated at the MOU signing ceremony between the National Institute of Fine Art, Lao PDR and Khon Kaen University at Luang Phrabang, People’s Democratic Republic of Lao in 2006. The MOU was aimed at studying traces of the long history and cultures of Lan Chang in Isan and in Loa PDR. The activities included collaboration in studying, compiling of information, exchange of opinions, and presentation of academic articles in Lan Chang art and culture in order to disseminate Lan Chang Heritage works in different media, printing and online, so that people in the two countries and abroad will have the information. The two parties would also set collaborative plans for developing Me Kong art and culture and promoting relationships between the personnel.
“The project also brings good results in academic promotion because academics from many institutions have chances to meet Lao academics, many of whom came to continue their studies at PhD level at Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts of KKU and returned to work as key educational personnel. We therefore have a close network that can continue working and researching in each other’s country. It is really useful for promoting academic collaboration that will bring benefits to us both,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Niyom said.
the 6th Lao-Thai Academic Collaboration in Art and Culture: “Lan Chang Heritage” was held on August 3-6, 2019 at Khon Kaen University and in Isan areas including Nakhon Panom, Udonthani, Sakonnakhon, Ubon Ratchathani, Mukdahan, Amnatjaroen and Jampasak in Lao PDR. Participants included 50 staff members from Thammasat University, Prince of Songkhla University Pattani Campus, Burapha University, Udonthani Rajabhat University, Kalasin performance Art College. The aim was to study and exchange information with staff members at the National Institute of Fine Art, Lao PDR before articles written and publicized.
The participants were scheduled from August 4, 2019. The first day was a visit at Phra Buddha Bat Bua Bok, Ban Chiang Museum in Udonthani; Phra That Choeng Chum, Phra That Narayana Jeng Weng, Michael Church in Nakhon Panom. The group departed to Lao PDR in August 6 to Jampasak to study historical places and arts.
News: Udomchai Supannawong
Photos: Udomchai Supannawong and Asst. Prof. Dr. Siripong Piasiri
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