Preservation and perseverance: Cultural heritage and contemporary practice in Thailand

Using the historical and contemporary context of Chiang Mai, Thailand, this course examines how expressions of cultural heritage are transmitted, revitalized, and expanded in contemporary practice. Over three weeks, students from all disciplines will learn directly from community leaders, participate in hands-on workshops, and gain other first-hand experiences that will complement personal research and/or production. These activities will take place in the temples, palaces, galleries, and streets of the 700-year-old city, as well as nearby rural villages and upland indigenous communities.   

The course will explore three expressions of cultural heritage through the lens of "then and now":   

1. Thai ceramics and glazing  

2. Thai, Northern Thai, and indigenous weaving and textile production  

3. Temples Mural and their influence on local street art   

We will delve deep into the importance of the preservation continued transmission of these techniques, as well as reflect on how and why many of these approaches have also been adapted and refreshed. The course format is flexible to support studio-based art and design practitioners, researchers, and art educators.  

This course will be delivered in collaboration with ISDSI at their sustainable development campus  

In addition to hands-on workshops and community/site-visits, group discussion and collaboration will be central elements of the course structure. Students will learn about local histories, knowledge and techniques, as well as broader related topics/initiatives such as UNESCO’s Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Participants will build an understanding of varied approaches to transmitting and preserving cultural techniques, including recognizing how and why some cases undergo revitalization or innovation as they adapt to new or changing conditions. Ongoing contemplation and dialogue on how this individualized experience will be embedded in course content. This includes reflection on how the experience will influence and expand their own contemporary practice, including the ways each student will connect the concepts and techniques explored to their own conditions and positionally    

Students will be required to engage in reflection activities throughout the travel abroad experience. These activities will be developed in an open-ended fashion that students can respond to through creative and/or written outputs. This will include capturing knowledge shared with them, their own personal observations/experiences, and articulation of how the local cultural production being studied connects to broader concepts/considerations in creative practice.  

Additionally, students will engage in independent research both during and after the travel period culminating in a final output in-line with their primary discipline or new area of exploration.   

Travel Dates: May 5^th – May 25^th, 2024 

Preliminary Itinerary: 

May 5 - Sun   

• Arrival   

• Orientation  

• Group dinner  

May 6 - Mon   

• Group breakfast/lunch/dinner 

• Survival Thai   

• Course overview   

• Introduction to the old city   

May 7 - Tue   

• Survival Thai   

• Group lunch in Old City 

• Temple architecture and murals   

• Street food (in small groups on your own)  

May 8 - Wed   

• Market exploration   

• Street art   

May 9 - Thur   

• Study/create day   

May 10 - Fri   

• Debrief / discussion/presentations   

• Independent exploration of old city   

May 11 - Sat   

• Optional activity (Patara Elephant Cafe)   

• Free day   

May 12 - Sun   

• Free Day   

• Walking street exploration   

May 13 - Mon   

• Thai galleries/Contemporary Art Museum   

• Thai ceramics/glazes/ techniques   

May 14 - Tue   

• Pottery studio day   

May 15 - Wed   

• Folk and contemporary art in everyday life (bamboo, palm leaves, etc.)   

May 16 - Thur   

• Study/create day   

May 17 - Fri   

• Lowland Thai village visit and daily life   

• Group lunch 

May 18 - Sat   

• Optional Activity (Cooking Class)   

• Free day   

May 19 - Sun   

• Fee Day   

• Walking street exploration   

May 20 - Mon   

• Introduction to history of textiles in Southeast Asian cultures   

• Group lunch 

• Silk weaving and silk production   

May 21 - Tue   

• Natural dyes/weaving day with Karen communities   

• Hmong textile traditions (batik, etc.)   

• Overnight in the village – breakfast/lunch/ dinner 

May 22 - Wed   

• Mae Cheam / Northern Thai pa'sin and tinjok traditional weaving   

• Norther rural temple study   

• Return to Chiang Mai   

May 23 - Thur

• Study/create day   

May 24 - Fri   

• Presentations   

• Wrap up   

• Final group dinner   

May 25 - Sat   

• Departure  

Want to learn more? Join us for an information session on November 3rd 1:00pm-2:30pm 

Location: 115 McCaul, Lower-Level  

Questions: 

Instructor: Jennie Suddick jsuddick@ocadu.ca  

International Programs & Collaborations Office: internationalprograms@ocadu.ca 

Submission deadline: Sunday November 12^th by 11:59pm  

 

Eligibility: This call is open to undergraduate students who have completed 10.0 credits or more from the Faculty of Art, Faculty of Design, Faculty of Arts and Science and Graduate Students. Graduate students please email sgshelp@ocadu.ca to for inquires on how this will fit into your program requirements. 

 

Funding: OCAD U seeks to reduce barriers to participation and increase the engagement of underrepresented students in international learning opportunities.     

 

Funding for undergraduate domestic undergraduate students is provided through the Global Skills Opportunity program. Target groups are defined through this program as follows:   

 

Low-income students: either having 1.) been approved for a Canada/Provincial Student Loan, Canada Student Grant or similar non-repayable student financial assistance in your province or territory for your current program of study OR 2.) In the absence of receiving non-repayable student financial assistance, can provide information to demonstrate that they require financial support in order to cover the estimated costs/expenses of this course.   

 

Indigenous students: First Nations, Métis, or Inuk (Inuit). This includes urban and unaffiliated Indigenous peoples.   

 

Students with disabilities: For the purposes of this program, disability is defined as a difficulty or impairment due to a long-term condition or health problem and/or experiences a limitation in their daily activities. Students do not need to be registered with OCAD U’s Student Accessibility Services, rather they are only required to only self-identify.    

This funding is to assist with flight and estimated costs for accommodations, meals and local travel are available to domestic undergraduate students who self-identify as one or more of these groups.  Along with your application, you will be asked to self-identify in order for us to gauge student funding eligibility. Note, your responses will not affect the evaluation of your application to participate. To receive these funds, eligible participants must participate in pre-departure training and will be required to submit GSO forms and travel forms.  

 

*Students who have already received this funding are not eligible. Priority will be given to students who have not already received GSO or GEP funding through previous opportunities*   

 

Estimated Costs/expenses: There is no associated participation or application fee, however, note that all selected students will be registered for this course and will be responsible for the associated tuition for a 0.5 credit. Eligible students will be provided with a maximum of $1750.00 CAD for their round-trip airfare. 

 

Click here to apply now!  

 

Successful applicants will be contacted to participate in a short interview on  

Monday, November 27^th via Teams 

Flight *prices are subject to change*	Up to a maximum of $1750.00 CAD will be provided
Accommodations / Meals/ Local travel	$2500.00 CAD
Total Estimated Costs	$4250.00 CAD

This is the summary of estimated costs. For those students who are not eligible for GSO funding, they will be responsible for covering these expenses.  

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