Future Learning Systems: Education, Art & Social Action in Asia
Our ambition: Professional Education for Cultural Changemakers in Asia
There is a growing and increasingly visible network of dedicated individuals, grassroots groups and informal arts organisations working across Asia using their creative and artistic skills to make positive change in their societies. Today, the lack of formal, accredited professional education for these practitioners limits not only opportunities for those individuals but the impact of the field more broadly.
In our 2026-2030 strategic plan, MCH set four strategic goals including one to develop and scale a professional qualification in Art and Social Action in Asia. Building on our 9 years’ experience offering training and fellowships to cultural practitioners in Asia, we intend to make this happen in active partnership with universities, arts partners and other strategic capacity building institutions in the region
Future Learning Systems Symposium
From June 10th-12th, MCH is organising a symposium on Future Learning Systems: Education, Art & Social Action in Asia. This inter-sectoral, inter-cultural and international meeting brings together universities, artists, cultural organisations and civil society groups for two days of talks, workshops and group discussions about the future of education for socially-engaged cultural practitioners in Asia.
In coming together, our goal is to identify existing good practices, as well as new possibilities for cross-sector cooperation to strengthen the educational offer available in the region.
The program will include four panel sessions featuring expert speakers (a mix of academics and practitioners) from Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam exploring topics including:
- Who needs Professional Education on art and social action in Asia?
- Arts & Social Intervention – models of field learning
- Educating Practitioners in University Settings
- Regional Narratives, Needs & Opportunities
There will be six in-depth, interactive case study workshops, during which cultural organisations who have developed training for experienced cultural practitioners on topics including Ethics, Wellbeing, Community Engagement and Narrative Change, will share pedagogies and approaches to professional education. These organisations include MCH, Dakila and Makhamphom, with speakers coming from South Africa, Thailand, the Philippines and the UK. There will also be another session of quickfire presentations from a range of universities, other institutions and artists to introduce relevant projects.
The final session of the symposium will be world café style collaborative exchange of ideas between all participants with the goal of identifying concrete opportunities for cooperation moving forward.
Please CLICK HERE to view the full program.
Registration
If you would like to attend the symposium, please contact info@mekongculturalhub.org
PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS
This program is possible thanks to the support of organisations and individuals including:
