The Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts at Khon Kaen University (KKU) has launched a major research project aimed at training a new generation of innovators for Thailand’s cultural festival industry. The initiative, led by Dean Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burin Plengdeesakul, will develop a specialized curriculum that uses artistic processes to showcase local values and diversify the country’s cultural events.
The project originates from the faculty’s “Arts for All” community engagement program, which over the past few years revealed a critical need. While local communities were successfully creating their own festivals, they often lacked the skills to make these events more creative, innovative, and economically viable for tourism. This new research project directly addresses that gap by aiming to produce skilled “innovators” who can elevate community-based festivals.
Supported by a 5 million Baht grant from the Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation (PMU-B), the project brings together a multidisciplinary team of researchers. Experts from KKU’s faculties of Fine and Applied Arts, Business Administration and Accountancy, and Education will collaborate with a researcher from Mahasarakham University’s Faculty of Architecture, Urban Design, and Creative Arts.
The core output will be the first curriculum of its kind in Thailand, designed to create cultural festival innovators. It will consist of seven theoretical and practical modules delivered via an online platform, covering topics such as “AI in Cultural Festivals,” “Community-based Storytelling and Festivalisation,” “Creative and Production Design,” and “Marketing and Management in Festivals.” The program will be offered free of charge to 500 participants, with the goal of cultivating 20 high-skilled innovators who will be selected for hands-on experience in creating a real-world cultural festival.
The project’s key objectives are to foster a new form of cultural event creation, termed “Festivalisation,” and to empower thinkers and art practitioners in the Isan region. By equipping them with new tools, the initiative aims to help communities present their unique identities in compelling ways that attract visitors and generate local income.
The project distinguishes itself in three main ways:
- Focus on Artistic Knowledge: It integrates core principles of fine arts—creativity, conceptual design, and unified communication—with knowledge from education, architecture, and marketing to provide a holistic and practical skill set.
- Developing Human Capital: It targets a diverse audience, including artists, cultural managers, community leaders, local officials, and students, to build a robust ecosystem of talent that can sustain and enrich local culture.
- Building a Network: Through on-site workshops, the project will create a collaborative network of festival creators across the Isan region, connecting academic institutions, government agencies, and local communities to ensure long-term cooperation and development.
Interested parties can follow the project’s progress on the official Facebook fan page of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Khon Kaen University.
