Yogyakarta, June 23, 2026 — The Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) Yogyakarta, through its Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, is organizing The 10th Art, Craft, and Design in Southeast Asia (ARCADESA) International Symposium 2026 on June 23-24, 2026, at the Ajiyasa Building, Faculty of Visual Arts and Design, ISI Yogyakarta. Under the theme “Art Diplomacy: Creative Collaboration for Global Humanity,” this international symposium serves as an academic and creative meeting space for academics, artists, designers, researchers, practitioners, and students from various countries.
The organization of ARCADESA 2026 reinforces ISI Yogyakarta's commitment to building an international network in art, craft, and design. Entering its 10th edition, ARCADESA continues to evolve as an academic forum that brings together ideas, research, artistic practices, and cross-border collaborative initiatives, particularly in the context of Southeast Asia and global networks.
The theme of art diplomacy raised at ARCADESA 2026 serves as a response to the increasingly connected, yet complex, dynamics of the contemporary world. These challenges range from social polarization, geopolitical tensions, and technological disruptions to the need for more inclusive humanitarian approaches. Through this forum, art, craft, and design are positioned not just as aesthetic practices, but also as mediums for cultural diplomacy capable of fostering dialogue, strengthening empathy, and bridging differences between nations.
The Head of the ARCADESA 2026 Committee, Dr. I Gede Arya Sucitra, S.Sn., M.A., stated that this symposium is an important moment to expand the exchange of knowledge and international cooperation in the fields of art, craft, and design. According to him, ARCADESA 2026 is expected to become a space that brings together various creative perspectives to build a more inclusive and sustainable future.
“Through creative collaboration and cross-cultural knowledge exchange, ARCADESA 2026 is expected to become a space that brings together diverse perspectives to build a more inclusive, empathetic, and sustainable future,” said Dr. I Gede Arya Sucitra.
He added that the holding of the 10th edition of ARCADESA marks an important milestone for ISI Yogyakarta's consistency in presenting an international academic forum relevant to global art and cultural developments. ARCADESA, according to him, not only serves as a space for scientific presentations, but also as a platform for networking, idea exchange, and strengthening inter-institutional cooperation.
“This 10th edition marks ISI Yogyakarta's ongoing commitment to providing a platform for academic exchange, creative dialogue, and international collaboration. ARCADESA is not just a forum for scientific presentations, but also a space for networking, expanding cooperation, and strengthening artistic contributions to the global community,” he explained.
ARCADESA 2026 will be held in a hybrid format, both offline at the Ajiyasa Building of ISI Yogyakarta and online via Zoom Meeting. This format opens up broader participation access for international attendees. In its implementation, this forum also involved around 50 online presenters from Malaysia, demonstrating strong academic relations and a spirit of collaboration in the Southeast Asian region.
This international symposium features a number of key speakers from reputable institutions, namely Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Azhar Abd Jamil from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, Malaysia; Assoc. Prof. Vichaya Mukdamanee, Ph.D. from Silpakorn University, Thailand; Dr. Cissie Fu from LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore; Michael Höpfner from Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Austria; Prof. Dr. Mohd Fauzi bin Sedon from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Malaysia; and Muhammad Sholahuddin, S.Sn., M.T. from the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, ISI Yogyakarta.
The presence of speakers from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Austria, and Indonesia demonstrates ISI Yogyakarta's capacity in developing an open, dialogical, and internationally oriented academic ecosystem for the arts. Through ARCADESA 2026, ISI Yogyakarta is not only acting as the host but also as an important node in the development of artistic knowledge, creative research, and cultural diplomacy.
Several strategic issues are the focus of discussions in ARCADESA 2026, including cultural diplomacy through art and design, the utilization of artificial intelligence in art and design practices, cross-cultural creative collaboration, human behavior and the social impact of art, heritage-based craft innovation, visual communication and narrative diplomacy, as well as art education in the context of global creative exchange.
In addition to the keynote session, panel discussions, and parallel presentations, ARCADESA 2026 also features a variety of creative supporting programs. These programs include comic book development workshops, batik concept creation, Wayang Beber lectures, painting activities, gallery tours, campus tours, and professional networking sessions. This series of activities expands ARCADESA's function as an academic space as well as a creative laboratory that brings together knowledge, skills, artistic practice, and cross-cultural collaboration.
Dr. I Gede Arya Sucitra expressed his appreciation to the ranks of the ISI Yogyakarta Rectorate, the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, institutional partners, the committee, reviewers, moderators, volunteers, and all parties who supported the ARCADESA 2026 event. He assessed that the participation from various countries is proof that art, crafts, and design have a strong connection in building cultural diplomacy and global cooperation.
“The participation of various countries shows that art, crafts, and design have a strong connection in building cultural diplomacy and global cooperation. Through ARCADESA 2026, we hope that the established partnerships can be further strengthened, while also opening new opportunities for collaborative research, academic publications, artistic exchanges, and sustainable networking,” he said.
The organization of ARCADESA 2026 is also directed towards producing impactful academic and collaborative outputs. These outputs include international conference proceedings, publications in reputable journals, documentation of workshop results, and strengthening partnerships between higher education institutions, creative communities, and international partners. One of the planned publications is the issuance of selected manuscripts in Environment and Behavior (E-BPJ) Special Issue scheduled for publication in September 2026.
Through ARCADESA 2026, ISI Yogyakarta reaffirms its role as an art higher education institution actively connecting education, research, artistic creation, and international cooperation. This forum is part of ISI Yogyakarta's efforts to establish art, craft, and design as transformative forces contributing to humanity, sustainability, and international dialogue.
As the 10th edition, ARCADESA 2026 marks ISI Yogyakarta's consistency in presenting an international academic forum relevant to the times. Amidst global social, cultural, and technological changes, ISI Yogyakarta continues to strengthen its position as a center of excellence in art education capable of bringing together tradition, innovation, and global collaboration.
With the ARCADESA International Symposium 2026 held, ISI Yogyakarta demonstrates that art higher education institutions have a strategic role in expanding cultural diplomacy, building international cooperation, and presenting humanitarian perspectives through the power of art and creativity.
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