Bantul, June 24, 2026 – The Faculty of Visual Arts and Design at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) Yogyakarta proudly hosted The 10th Art, Craft, and Design in Southeast Asia (ARCADESA) International Symposium 2026. Held on June 23–24, 2026, this hybrid event took place offline at the Ajiyasa Building, 2nd Floor, and was simultaneously broadcast online via Zoom.
Carrying the theme “Art Diplomacy: Creative Collaboration for Global Humanity,” the symposium provided a vibrant academic and creative space that brought together artists, designers, scholars, researchers, and practitioners from diverse disciplines. The gathering focused on the strategic role of art, craft, and design in fostering global understanding and cross-cultural collaboration. In an increasingly interconnected world that simultaneously faces challenges such as social polarization, geopolitical tensions, and technological disruptions, art is recognized as a powerful diplomatic medium capable of bridging cultural, linguistic, and ideological divides. Through visual language, creative practices, and cultural exchange, art helps create inclusive dialogues, strengthens international empathy, and encourages collaborative solutions to pressing global issues.
ARCADESA 2026 positions art, craft, and design at the heart of cultural diplomacy and global knowledge development. Designed not merely as an international academic forum, the symposium serves as a strategic platform for creative collaboration, research dissemination, and the strengthening of institutional networks on a global scale.
The central theme was explored through several engaging discussion tracks, including cultural diplomacy through art and design, the integration of artificial intelligence in creative practices, cross-cultural collaboration, art and social impact, heritage-based craft innovation, visual communication and narrative diplomacy, and art education within the context of global creative exchange. Beyond the international conference, which featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, and hybrid parallel presentations, ARCADESA 2026 also offered interactive creative workshops, such as batik making and digital painting. The comprehensive program was further enriched by gallery tours, campus tours, and professional networking sessions. The event was honored by six distinguished speakers, comprising five international keynote speakers and one address from the faculty leadership:
- Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Azhar Abd. Jamil (Faculty of Art & Design, UiTM Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia)
- Assistant Professor Vichaya Mukdamanee, Ph.D. (Faculty of Painting, Sculpture, and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University, Thailand)
- Associate Professor Dr. Cissie Fu (McNally School of Fine Arts, LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts, Singapore)
- Michael Höpfner, Mag.art. (Department of Art and Time, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Austria – Online Speaker)
- Professor Dr. Mohd. Fauzi bin Sedon (Faculty of Art, Sustainability, & Creative Industry, Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI), Malaysia)
- Muhamad Sholahuddin, S.Sn., M.T. (Dean of the Faculty of Visual Arts and Design, ISI Yogyakarta, Indonesia)
Dr. I Gede Arya Sucitra, S.Sn., M.A., the Chairperson of the ARCADESA 2026 Organizing Committee, expressed his hope that the symposium would reinforce the position of art as a highly relevant diplomatic instrument in addressing contemporary global challenges. “Through creative collaboration and the cross-cultural exchange of knowledge, ARCADESA 2026 aims to be a welcoming space that converges diverse perspectives to build a more inclusive, empathetic, and sustainable future,” he stated.
Through this initiative, ARCADESA 2026 targets the generation of significant academic and collaborative outputs. These include international conference proceedings, publications in reputable journals, workshop documentation, and the strengthening of partnerships among educational institutions, creative communities, and international partners. A key publication initiative is the forthcoming Environment Behaviour Proceedings Journal (E-BPJ) Special Issue, which is scheduled for release in September 2026.
As its 10th edition, ARCADESA 2026 reaffirms its enduring commitment to serving as a premier platform for the exchange of ideas, innovation, and international collaboration in the fields of art, craft, and design. Ultimately, the symposium aspires to elevate art diplomacy as a transformative force for global humanity.
Author: FSRD Public Relations Team & Event Secretary
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