Chula and Chiang Mai University Conclude the ICTMD Study Groups 2026 Joint Symposium
The ICTMD Study Groups 2026 Joint Symposium, held from July 2 to 8, 2026, at Chiang Mai University, concluded on a high note in an atmosphere of celebration and appreciation. Prof. Dr. Kumkom Pornprasit, Dean of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sugree Gasorngatsara, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Chiang Mai University; and Dr. Prapassorn Wongrattanapitak, Chair of the Executive Board of Cultural Performance Co., Ltd., ceremonially handed over the ICTMD flag to Sunway University, Malaysia, the host institution for the 2028 PASEA-ICTMD Conference.
This Joint Symposium was made possible through the collaborative efforts and friendship of scholars, artists, researchers, and students from 23 countries. It marked several historic milestones: the first ICTMD Study Groups symposium held in Thailand, the first to be hosted on mainland Southeast Asia, and the first joint meeting of three ICTMD Study Groups: Performing Arts of Southeast Asia (PASEA), Applied Ethnomusicology, and Indigenous Music & Dance. The symposium was jointly organized by the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University, the Faculty of Fine Arts, Chiang Mai University, and Cultural Performance Co., Ltd.
The closing ceremony opened with the creative performance “Embodying the Climate Call,” developed from a workshop led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Kusuma Fenske-Stalling of the Performing Arts Program, Department of Media Arts and Design, Faculty of Fine Arts, Chiang Mai University. The project aimed to raise awareness of climate change through a simulation-based creative process, translating participants’ experiences into performance, movement, theater, and original music. The production brought together performing arts students, local Chiang Mai artists, and international doctoral students specializing in music and dance. Featuring a total of 40 performers, the work demonstrated the power of collaborative artistic creation to foster knowledge exchange, intercultural dialogue, and global environmental awareness.
On this occasion, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sugree Gasorngatsara, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Chiang Mai University, expressed his gratitude to the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University, and Cultural Performance Co., Ltd., as co-hosts whose close collaboration ensured the symposium’s success. He also thanked the executive committees of the three ICTMD Study Groups for entrusting Chiang Mai University with co-hosting the event. He emphasized that the symposium provided a valuable opportunity to welcome scholars, artists, and cultural practitioners from around the world while showcasing the rich artistic and cultural heritage of Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Dr. Kumkom Pornprasit, Dean of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University, highlighted that the symposium’s success was the result of strong cooperation among all parties involved, including the two universities, Cultural Performance Co., Ltd., the organizing committee, volunteers, student interns, artists, sponsors, and participants. Together, they created an international platform for the exchange of knowledge in music, dance, and the performing arts. He expressed confidence that the professional networks and friendships formed throughout the symposium would lead to even stronger future collaborations in academic research, education, and artistic creation.
During the closing program, Prof. Dr. Yuttanant Boonyongmaneerat, Director of the Metallurgy and Materials Science Research Institute at Chulalongkorn University, presented his research entitled “The Science and Art of Gong Sound: Decoding Metallurgy to Preserve the Ideal Resonance.” The project integrates advanced science and technology to address Thailand’s growing crisis in traditional gong making, as the profession of gong craftsmen is rapidly disappearing. This decline poses significant cultural challenges not only in Thailand but across Southeast Asia, where gongs are central to many musical traditions. The research attracted considerable interest from scholars and researchers worldwide as a pioneering and highly innovative contribution to cultural heritage preservation.
The symposium welcomed more than 600 participants, including scholars, artists, students, organizing committee members, front- and backstage staff, guest performers, artists from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, and volunteers from 23 countries. The event demonstrated Chulalongkorn University’s capability to host international academic conferences and cultural events while highlighting the success of building global partnerships among universities, cultural organizations, and academic networks. These collaborations are expected to further advance education, research, and the sustainable preservation of the world’s musical and dance heritage.
