Yogyakarta, November 3, 2025 - Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta is hosting an international event in a series of Yogyakarta Cultural Festival to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference (KAA). In this activity, 23 delegates from 12 Asian, African, and European countries gathered to explore art, culture, and the values of togetherness through a series of activities at ISI Yogyakarta.
The event titled "Yogya Sharing Seminar: Cultural Diversity in a Globalized World - Challenges and Perspectives” is a collaboration between ISI Yogyakarta and the University of Le Havre Normandie (France) and several international partner institutions. The activity was attended by participants from France, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, India, Poland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, South Africa and Indonesia.
According to committee data, the delegates consisted of academics, artists, and cultural researchers, including Prof. Darwis Khudori (France-Indonesia), Beatriz Bissio (Brazil), Dr. Seema Mehra Parihar (India), Gracjan Cimek (Poland), Jan Niklas Huhn (Germany), and Yacouba Sawadogo (Burkina Faso). They attended a series of events such as international seminars, batik workshops, film screenings, and cross-cultural art performances that took place over three days at the oldest art campus in Yogyakarta.
Rector of ISI Yogyakarta Dr. Irwandi, M.Sn. in his speech said that this activity is an important momentum to strengthen cultural diplomacy and the spirit of solidarity between nations as the values inherited by the Asian-African Conference.
“KAA is not only a political milestone, but also a cultural event that unites nations in Asia and Africa through the spirit of equality. Through art, we can build bridges of brotherhood that transcend national borders,” said Irwandi.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kholid Arif Rozaq, Vice Rector III of ISI Yogyakarta, explained that the delegates not only attended seminars, but were also invited to experience the richness of local culture.
“We invite them to get to know Jogja more closely, including learning batik at the batik studio, Craft Study Program, FSRD, ISI Yogyakarta. The goal is for participants to understand that Indonesian culture is not just an object of study, but a living experience,” he said.
In addition to the workshop, the event also featured a collaborative performance presented in IDCF 2025. (International Dance Conference and Festival), on Monday night, November 3, 2025 at the Art Laboratory, ISI Yogyakarta. The peak night of the event was marked by the orchestra concert “Saraswati” which collaborated with musicians from various participating countries, strengthening the nuances of cross-national brotherhood.
This activity is also part of a series of commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference, which was previously held in Blitar. The series of events in Yogyakarta focused on culture and art education as a continuation of the intellectual dialog that had begun in Blitar.
The participants expressed appreciation for the organization of activities that combine academic and cultural elements in a balanced manner. Lilou Ruel Deshayes from France called the experience of making batik and interacting with ISI students “the best way to understand Indonesian culture in depth.”
Through the organization of this international cultural seminar and festival, ISI Yogyakarta emphasizes the role of the art campus as a center of global cultural diplomacy connecting intellectuals, artists, and students across countries to strengthen the values of solidarity, peace, and respect for diversity.
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