Southeast Asian Conference on Arts & Humanities 2027 (SEACAH2027)
The Southeast Asian Conference on Arts & Humanities (SEACAH2027) is an academic event focused on fostering interdisciplinary dialogue within the arts and humanities. Hosted in Bangkok, THA, this conference brings together scholars, researchers, and practitioners to explore diverse perspectives and advancements in these fields. It serves as a significant platform for intellectual exchange and collaboration across the region. The conference aims to highlight the rich cultural tapestry and academic contributions of Southeast Asia, providing a forum for presenting new research, discussing contemporary issues, and building professional networks. Participants can expect a program designed to stimulate critical thinking and encourage innovative approaches to understanding the arts and humanities in a global context.
Committees & topics
Topics
Teaching and Learning the Arts · Arts Policy, Management and Advocacy · Arts Theory and Criticism · Social, Political and Community Agendas in the Arts · Visual Arts Practices · Performing Arts Practices: Theater, Dance, Music · Literary Arts Practices · Media Arts Practices: Television, Multimedia, Digital, Online and Other New Media
Why it matters
SEACAH2027 holds particular significance for several reasons. Firstly, it provides a dedicated space for the academic community to engage with the unique cultural and historical narratives of Southeast Asia. In a globalized world, understanding regional specificities within the arts and humanities is crucial for a comprehensive intellectual landscape. The conference's location in THA further underscores its commitment to a regional focus, making it accessible to scholars from neighboring countries such as IDN, PHL, SGP, VNM, MYS, MMR, TLS, and KHM.
Secondly, the interdisciplinary nature of the conference encourages cross-pollination of ideas, which is essential for innovation in academic research. By bringing together various sub-fields within the arts and humanities, SEACAH2027 facilitates a broader understanding of complex societal issues and cultural phenomena. This approach can lead to novel research questions and collaborative projects that might not emerge from more siloed academic environments.
Finally, the conference contributes to the professional development of its attendees. For emerging scholars, it offers an opportunity to present their work to a diverse audience, receive feedback, and connect with established academics. For seasoned professionals, it provides a forum to share expertise, discover new trends, and forge partnerships that can extend beyond the conference itself. Such gatherings are vital for the sustained growth and vitality of academic disciplines.
How to prepare
Prospective attendees should prepare by thoroughly researching the conference's themes and identifying how their work aligns with the broader objectives of SEACAH2027. Given the interdisciplinary focus, considering how one's research intersects with other fields within the arts and humanities can enhance the relevance and impact of presentations. Crafting a compelling abstract that clearly articulates the research's contribution and methodology is a critical first step.
For those planning to attend, familiarizing themselves with the academic landscape and cultural context of THA can be beneficial. Understanding the local academic environment and key research institutions in the region can inform networking strategies and potential collaborative opportunities. Participants should also consider how their work might resonate with scholars from diverse national backgrounds, including those from IDN, PHL, SGP, VNM, MYS, MMR, TLS, and KHM, fostering a truly international exchange of ideas.
Given the conference's format, preparing for engaging discussions and Q&A sessions is advisable. Attendees should be ready to articulate their research clearly and concisely, and to thoughtfully respond to questions from a multidisciplinary audience. Networking is a key component of such events, so preparing concise introductions and being open to informal conversations can maximize the benefits of participation.
Country perspectives
Where the most-relevant 9 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.
ThailandHost nation, providing a central hub for regional academic exchange.
Role in topic
As the host country, THA offers a culturally rich backdrop for discussions on arts and humanities in Southeast Asia. Its academic institutions and cultural heritage are likely to be central to many presentations and discussions, reflecting its significant role in regional scholarship and artistic expression.
IndonesiaSignificant contributor to regional arts and humanities scholarship.
Role in topic
IDN, with its vast cultural diversity and extensive academic community, is expected to be a major participant, contributing research on its unique artistic traditions, historical narratives, and contemporary cultural developments within the broader Southeast Asian context.
PhilippinesActive participant in discussions on cultural identity and post-colonial studies.
Role in topic
The PHL's rich history and diverse cultural influences position its scholars to offer valuable insights into topics such as cultural identity, linguistic diversity, and the impact of historical events on contemporary arts and humanities in the region.
SingaporeHub for modern cultural studies and digital humanities.
Role in topic
SGP, known for its advanced research infrastructure and focus on innovation, is likely to contribute perspectives on modern cultural studies, urban arts, and the growing field of digital humanities, reflecting its unique position as a global city in Southeast Asia.
VietnamEngaged in exploring historical narratives and contemporary artistic expressions.
Role in topic
VNM's complex history and vibrant contemporary arts scene mean its scholars can provide crucial perspectives on historical memory, cultural resilience, and evolving artistic forms within the Southeast Asian framework.
MalaysiaContributor to discussions on multiculturalism and heritage preservation.
Role in topic
MYS, with its multicultural society and efforts in heritage preservation, is well-positioned to contribute to discussions on cultural diversity, inter-ethnic relations, and the challenges and opportunities in safeguarding cultural legacies in the region.
MyanmarFocus on cultural heritage and socio-political influences on art.
Role in topic
Scholars from MMR may offer insights into the preservation of unique cultural heritage, the role of arts in social commentary, and the impact of socio-political dynamics on artistic and humanistic expressions within the region.
Timor-LesteEmerging voice in post-conflict cultural studies and identity.
Role in topic
TLS, as a newer nation in the region, can provide valuable perspectives on post-conflict cultural reconstruction, the formation of national identity through arts and humanities, and the challenges of cultural development.
CambodiaFocus on ancient civilizations, cultural revival, and memory studies.
Role in topic
KHM's rich ancient history and ongoing efforts in cultural revival make its scholars key contributors to discussions on archaeological studies, the legacy of ancient civilizations, and memory studies within the context of Southeast Asian arts and humanities.
Topics & background
The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it.
Teaching and Learning the Arts
Key players
- Indonesia
Home to ISI conservatories and a national curriculum emphasizing traditional arts transmission.
- Philippines
Operates the Special Program in the Arts and a long-established tertiary arts education network.
- Thailand
Hosts Silpakorn and Bunditpatanasilpa, anchoring royal-patronage arts pedagogy in the region.
- Singapore
Leading creative-industries arts education hub through NAFA, LASALLE, and SOTA.
- Vietnam
Reforming arts academies to balance socialist heritage curricula with market-oriented creative skills.
Arts Policy, Management and Advocacy
Key players
- Singapore
Operates one of the region's most developed arts funding and policy ecosystems via the National Arts Council.
- Indonesia
Pioneered a dedicated creative economy agency and law (2019) covering 17 creative subsectors.
- Malaysia
Administers cultural policy through MOTAC and contests over multi-ethnic representation in national arts.
- Thailand
Promotes soft-power '5F' cultural exports while maintaining strict content regulation.
- Philippines
Recently legislated a Creative Industries Development Act and operates the NCCA.
- Vietnam
Centralized cultural management under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, with state-led cultural strategy to 2030.
Arts Theory and Criticism
Key players
- Singapore
Hosts the National Gallery and NTU CCA, key institutions producing regional art-historical scholarship.
- Indonesia
Generated influential critical traditions around Bandung and Yogyakarta art schools and biennale circuits.
- Philippines
Strong lineage of Marxist and decolonial art criticism rooted in UP and Ateneo academic communities.
- Thailand
Home to Apinan Poshyananda's curatorial school and active biennale-driven critical discourse.
- Vietnam
Site of ongoing reassessment of socialist realism, Đổi Mới-era art, and emergent independent criticism.
Social, Political and Community Agendas in the Arts
Key players
- Philippines
Long tradition of activist theater and community arts confronting authoritarianism and inequality.
- Indonesia
Vibrant community-art collectives (e.g., ruangrupa) addressing post-Reformasi social agendas.
- Myanmar
Site of acute repression of dissident artists since the 2021 military takeover.
- Thailand
Contested space for political art amid lèse-majesté prosecutions and youth-led protest aesthetics.
- Timor-Leste
Uses arts in post-conflict memory and reconciliation processes.
- Cambodia
Reconstruction of cultural memory through arts after the Khmer Rouge era.
Visual Arts Practices
Key players
- Indonesia
Largest regional visual-arts ecosystem with global figures like Heri Dono and the ruangrupa collective.
- Singapore
Regional market and museum hub via the National Gallery and Art SG fair.
- Philippines
Strong painting tradition and one of the most active contemporary auction markets in Asia.
- Thailand
Anchors the Bangkok Art Biennale and a thriving contemporary gallery scene.
- Vietnam
Rapidly growing contemporary scene built on École des Beaux-Arts d'Indochine legacies.
- Cambodia
Center of ongoing artifact repatriation efforts and post-conflict visual-arts revival.
Performing Arts Practices: Theater, Dance, Music
Key players
- Indonesia
Custodian of gamelan, wayang, and a vibrant contemporary dance and theater scene.
- Thailand
Maintains khon and classical music traditions under royal patronage alongside an experimental fringe.
- Cambodia
Rebuilding classical dance and music after near-total loss during the Khmer Rouge years.
- Philippines
Strong musical theater, choral, and contemporary dance traditions with global diasporic reach.
- Vietnam
Home to water puppetry, ca trù, and a reform-era contemporary performance scene.
- Singapore
Regional commissioning hub via Esplanade and Singapore International Festival of Arts.
Literary Arts Practices
Key players
- Indonesia
Largest literary market in the region with strong publishing and festival infrastructure.
- Philippines
Bilingual English/Filipino tradition producing internationally awarded fiction and poetry.
- Vietnam
State-managed publishing alongside a growing translated diaspora literature.
- Singapore
Multilingual literary scene supported by the National Arts Council and Singapore Writers Festival.
- Thailand
Originated the S.E.A. Write Award and faces ongoing tensions around politically sensitive writing.
- Myanmar
Literary community sharply constrained since the 2021 coup, with many writers in exile.
Media Arts Practices: Television, Multimedia, Digital, Online and Other New Media
Key players
- Indonesia
Largest digital media market in ASEAN with booming creator economy and contested ITE Law enforcement.
- Philippines
Among the world's heaviest social-media-using populations and a major content-creator export base.
- Singapore
Regional hub for media production, immersive arts, and platform regulation including POFMA.
- Thailand
Strong film and series export sector ('5F') alongside strict Computer Crime Act enforcement.
- Vietnam
Fast-growing digital content market under one of the region's most restrictive cyber regimes.
- Malaysia
Active multimedia industry shaped by MDEC incentives and tightening online content rules.
Resources
News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for Southeast Asian Conference on Arts & Humanities 2027 (SEACAH2027).
Lessons
Bite-sized lessons to build the basics
Courses
Guided courses that go deeper on the topic
The states in play, with the data that shapes their stance
Related conferences
By committee
- Teaching and Learning the Arts
- Arts Policy, Management and Advocacy
- Arts Theory and Criticism
- Social, Political and Community Agendas in the Arts
- Visual Arts Practices
- Performing Arts Practices: Theater, Dance, Music
- Literary Arts Practices
- Media Arts Practices: Television, Multimedia, Digital, Online and Other New Media