The 45th International Council for Traditional Music (ICTM) was held at Chulalongkorn University in July 2019. The premier global meeting for ethnomusicologists was held in Southeast Asia for the first time in its history. As the secretary-general of the ICTM Prof Ursuka Hemetek said: "This is a special occasion for us to be in Southeast Asia for the first time."

Concert: The Pursuit of Imagined Sounds: Thai String Ensemble & Guitar

Artist-in-Residence Dr. John Garzoli held a concert at the Faculty Recital Hall on Friday, 24th January, 2020 as part of his research and work with the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts. He was joined by distinguished faculty members Dr. Pakorn Rodchangpheun, Dr Wirad Songcroh (both saw duang), Dr. Dusadee Swangviboonpong and Dr. Tharanat Hin-on (both saw u), Dr. Jaran Kanchanapradit (khlui) from Khon Kaen University, Dr. Kovit Kantasiri (violin), Dr. Pornprapit Phoasavadi (pump organ), Dr. Sompob Peungpreeda (piano) and Dr. Jane Chaleoykai (double bass).

The programme included the Kwan Maung Overture, composed by Pra Pradithpairoh, a guitar solo arrangement of the tune Nok Kamin, written by National Artist Master Sanoh Laungsoonthorn, who also attended the recital, a medley of 1950-1980 Thai pop hit tunes that were all derived from the classical music repertoire and a Thai classical song Yo Yos Phra Loh, sung in a Laotian style. Chaiyathat Sophrakhan, Praewravee Aroonthada and Thitinan Wattanakasiwich were the vocalists.

The concert was enthusiastically received by the audience, which included a number of noted musicians as well as Professor Dr. Suthipun Jitpimolmard, Director of the Thailand Research Fund.

Article and Photos by John Clewley

A new Chula Art Town project was launched on Monday 27th January 2020 at the ART4C center on Rama 4 road. Introduced by Dean of the Faculty, Professor Dr. Bussakorn Binson, the new project is based on a virtual map of the 50 artworks created in many parts of the Chula Art Town area (Rama 4 road, Siam Square, Suan Luang and Samyan).

The virtual map was created by Dr. Vorapoj Songchareon of Bangkok University with the aim of creating a map that is easy to use and accessible for visitors and tourists. An exciting part of this project is the involvement of the local community in providing services – motorcycle taxi drivers are being trained to take visitors on a tour, both real and virtual, of the artworks. At each site, participants can access the VR map using their smart phones via a QR code.

At the induction on Monday, a large group of motorcycle taxi drivers from several taxi stands in the Chula Art Town Area attended a learning session delivered by Dr. Vorapoj. Staff were on hand to assist the motorcycle taxi drivers and they quickly accessed the VR information and Chula Art Town website. After the session, some of the motorcycle drivers took faculty staff to some of the sites.

The next stage of the project is to train tourist guides in the use of the VR map technology, so that tours can be arranged for visitors.

Article and Photos by John Clewley

The new FAA-Emili Sagol Creative Arts and Well-being Research Center was launched today by Dean of the FAA, Professor Bussakorn Binson who said in her opening address that the center would "serve [Thai] society, especially in terms of well-being." She noted that the center was the only one of its kind in Southeast Asia. Read more on QS News

A team of volunteers from Chulalongkorn University’s Creative Arts Therapy (CAT) programme journeyed to Korat city, Nakorn Ratchasima province on 22-23 February to provide trauma therapy sessions and trauma release exercises to survivors of the tragic shooting incident at the Terminal 21 shopping mall on 8 February. The team was led by the Dean of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts (FAA), Prof Bussakorn Binson and supervised by Prof Rachel Lev-Wiesel, the Director of the Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center at the University of Haifa, Israel.

LA Times report by Joe Freeman on FAA team of art therapists providing therapy for survivors of shooting incident at Terminal 21 shopping mall in Korat city, Nakorn Ratchasima.

A new kind of building has risen right next to Chulalongkorn University’s Centenary Park. It’s a futuristic geodesic dome, designed to house the FAAMAI Digital Arts Hub, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.

The Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts at Chulalongkorn University has opened up its ambitious community outreach art program to online audiences, with the launch of an online exhibition and virtual tour on Google Arts & Culture, called “Chula Art Town: A public space for the community.” This is the faculty’s first virtual exhibition and tour on Google Arts and Culture.

Volunteers from Chulalongkorn University's Creative Arts Therapy (CAT) programme went to Nakhon Ratchasima this February to provide trauma art therapy sessions to the survivors of the tragic shooting at Terminal 21 shopping mall. The team was led by the dean of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts (FAA), Professor Bussakorn Binson, and supervised by Prof Rachel Lev-Wiesel, director of the Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center at the University of Haifa, Israel.

Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts (FAA) has announced the online launch of its groundbreaking FAAMAI Digital Arts Hub with a new online video on the program, a digital art competition and the commissioning of digital artworks for the international launch of the project in early 2021.

QS WOW News publishes news of the faculty's three new international postgraduate courses - MA in Music Therapy, MA in Creative Arts Therapy and MA in Curatorial Practice.

Meet & greet our faculty members! 15 December 2020 at 8.00pm (Thailand time zone). Free admission - see QR code on poster.

Have you ever wondered what a music therapist does? Interested to find out about the life of a music therapist? Want to know more about the work environment of a music therapist? Join us and find out more. In this webinar, our speakers will be sharing their experience as working music therapists. They will share their insights into what a music therapist really does and the challenges of being a music therapist. Our speakers will also share their experience and expertise in their specialist fields: 1) Major Depressive Disorder (MDD); 2) Addiction; and 3) Children with special needs.

For more information, contact email: cufaamt@gmail.com, Facebook: MA in Music Therapy Chulalongkorn University

8 Dec. 2020, FAAMAI Dome, Bangkok – The Faculty of Fine Arts FAAMAI Digital Arts Hub has announced the winning teams and their entries for its 360 Mapping Competition (Creative Coding). To encourage young digital artists to develop their skills and artistic abilities in this new multidisciplinary field, the competition was open to teams and individual digital artists under the age of 25.

FAAMAI means “Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts Multidisciplinary Art Innovation Centre”; the center includes the FAAMAI Dome, a geodesic dome located next to the university’s Centenary Park, and the state-of-the-art FAAMAI Digital Arts Lab at the faculty.

Eight teams submitted their artworks, which were designed to be projected on the outside of FAAMAI’s geodesic dome. The included Professor Micky Remann, Professor of Immersive Media at Bauhaus-Universitaet Weimar and his assistant Ms Kate Ledina, a German-Czech filmmaker and media artist, Mr Jeff Hung, of the School of Technology for the Arts, Republic University, Singapore, faculty lecturers Associate Professor Kamol Phaosavasdi and Dr Pichai Thurongkinanon, Mr Nattawut Srimantra, Den of the Faculty of Digital Art, Rangsit University, Dr. Suriya Rattanawongkul, Assumption University, Ms. Chanya Hetayothin, Program in Film and Digital Media, King Mongkut’s Institute of technology, Mr Sakchai Kitchareonnaitham, managing Director, 4M Multimedia (provider of projector system for FAAMAI) and Mr Methin Pingsutthiwong, NABLA Digital and lecturer at Silpakorn University.

Dean of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Profressor Dr Bussakorn Binson was on hand to present trophies and cash awards to the participants. The grand prize-winning entry was “Connecting Mind, Connecting World” by team Butterlfy (Setthawat Phonpherm, Supatcha Yarbkasikit, Kanjana Klinjan, Papassara Khunwiset and Pimrada Punyakhetpimook. Ist Runner-up was “Alive Bone” by Np200043 (Nichaporn Pantaramongkhon) and the 2^nd Runner-up was “อนุภาคแห่งองค์ความรู้ขับเคลื่อน” by Mccsoo. Team Butterfly also won the coveted Popular Vote as well.

The award for Outstanding Creative Coding went to two teams, Multi Designs (Touchwin Timaroon, jackapat Wattanaungoon, Pavee Sarapaivitit and Sutharak Buddapong) for their “Visible Dome” artwork; and Team ibwnf3_tai2075 for their project “New Universe”.

On 20th December 2020, FAAMAI will showcase 360 degree projected digital art at the FAAMAI Dome in Samyan District. This is the fifth exhibition held by FAAMAI and it will give a snapshot of some of the exciting events and exhibitions to be held at FAAMAI in 2021. Inside see digital movies screened at 360 degrees and outside be part of the interactive digital experience.

On 20^th December 2020, FAAMAI invites you to come and experience 360 degree projected digital art at the FAAMAI Dome in Samyan District. This is the fifth exhibition held by FAAMAI and it will give a snapshot of some of the exciting events and exhibitions to be held at FAAMAI in 2021. Inside see digital movies screened at 360 degrees and outside be part of the interactive digital experience.

Guest artists include Colombian Jorge Bandera and Julius Horsthuis, who will screen their award-winning digital artworks: Desconexion, a fulldome movie by Bandera; and Fractal Time, an immersive technology short film by Horsthuis, and Move-Make-Create, an interactive 360 projection on the outside of the FAAMAI Dome by Rungtum Kiatsrichart and Tyler James.

There will be eight one-hour shows in the FAAMAI Dome, and each show will feature one of the above films screened inside the Dome plus Kiatsrichart and James’ interactive artwork on the outside of the Dome.

As a result of the current pandemic, the number of people attending each show is restricted to ensure the safety of visitors. To reserve a place, scan the attached QR code, which contains all the details of the event.

Chula’s FAAMAI Digital Arts Hub Open to Public on 19-20 December 2020

Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Fine Arts & Applied Arts and FAAMAI Digital Arts Hub welcomed distinguished guests to a show of original digital artworks projected on to the interior of the FAAMAI dome and projection mapping onto the dome’s exterior on 19-20 December.

FAAMAI means “Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts Multidisciplinary Art Innovation Centre”; the center includes the FAAMAI Dome, a geodesic dome located next to the university’s Centenary Park, and the state-of-the-art FAAMAI Digital Arts Lab at the faculty.

March 8-9 2021, 9.00 AM- 2.00 PM. The 18th forum is hosted online by the Faculty, in collaboration with Osaka City University, Japan. This year, the forum is online, due to the COVID-19 pandemic but it is open to the public (see attached poster for QR code/link or go directly to the forum website): http://www.urpbkk.com/urp/Forum.html. This year's forum has two main themes: "Art & Cultural Activities with Covid-19" and "Saving Our Urban Habitat - Creating A Sustainable Future".

OIA hosted a talk on Thursday 29th April 2021 on how to prepare to apply for a Chula ASEAN Scholarship and to study in Thailand. Hosted by Jerald Choi Mun Jet, who is a staff member of the FAA-Emili Sagol Creative Arts Research and Innovation for Well-being Center, the talk featured guests from the region who have studied at the university. A video of the event is available at: https://www.facebook.com/OIAFAAChula/videos/843261089872145

Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Ranking for 2021 has credited the university with the top ranking position  for global impact, the highest-ranking position ever acheived by a Thai university. The rankings relate to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); the university secured top position in ASEAN for four SDGs (SDGs 8,9,15 and 17). More information on the link below:http://chula.ac.th/en/news/45806/?fbclid=IwAR1h0w9JajwLvf5x-Jnu9QCXPZuLOtz11XBLaTLGssF2FQ-cuzmSDPeLytU

FAA's Journal of Urban Culture Research (JUCR) ranked No. 1 in Asia for music by Scientific Journal Rankings (2021). JUCR is ranked first in field of music by Scimago Journal Rankings (along with Malaysian Journal of Music and Wacana Seni Journal), which are based on SCOPUS database (as of April 2021) and ranked Best Quartile (Q1) in Virtual Arts and Performing Arts. See 'Journals' below ...

https://www.scimagojr.com/journalrank.php?category=1210&country=Asiatic%20Region&type=j