Globalization has brought both positive and negative impacts on Indonesia. While it offers an abundance of information, it also poses challenges to the preservation of national cultural values such as manners. This concern led to the organization of the 19th Nusantara Manuscript International Symposium titled “Strengthening Indonesianness Through Nusantara Manuscript Studies” by MANASSA and the Faculty of Cultural Sciences of Gadjah Mada. The symposium aimed to address the importance of studying Nusantara manuscripts in reinforcing the country’s identity and cultural values.

The Nusantara Manuscript International Symposium (SIPN) is an annual event that has been organized by the Nusantara Manuscript Society (Manassa). The primary objective of this event is to provide a platform for both domestic and international scholars to delve into the latest findings in the field of Indonesian manuscripts. Dr Munawar Holil, S.S., M.Hum., the Chairman of Manassa, expressed in the opening ceremony of the XIX International Symposium of Nusantara Manuscripts (SIPN) that the symposium attracts researchers of various levels, from juniors to seniors, and serves as an ideal venue for the sharing of knowledge and experiences. Varies from various levels of expertise, from juniors to seniors, and serves as an ideal venue for the sharing of knowledge and experiences.

This year’s International Symposium on Nusantara Manuscripts will be held offline and online for two days on 7-8 August at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM. The 19th Nusantara Manuscripts International Symposium, entitled “Strengthening Indonesianness through Nusantara Manuscript Studies”, is expected to reinforce the role and function of Nusantara manuscripts as a national identity amidst the current globalisation.

The symposium is divided into eight discussion panels: (1) Cross-Cultural Phenomenon in Nusantara Manuscripts; (2) Digital Humanities and Nusantara Manuscript Studies; (3) Nature and Nusantara Manuscripts; (4) Ethnoscience for Nusantara Manuscript Studies; (5) Nusantara Manuscript Studies and Sustainable Development Issues; (6) Preservation and Conservation of Nusantara Manuscripts; (7) Reportage, Rumours, and Hoaxes in Nusantara Manuscripts; (8) Nusantara Manuscripts and Creative Industries.

Further information about SIPN XIX can be found at http://www.manassa.id.

SOAS is partnering with Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) to solicit contributions to Volume III of the anthology series The Creative South: Buddhist and Hindu Art in Medieval Maritime Asia.

The workshop aims to maintain the Southeast Asian Arts Academic Programme’s (SAAAP) strategic goal of setting standards for anthologies together with regional partners, including universities, museums, and conservation bodies, and to engage Alphawood alumni in expanding local to global appreciation of art and culture related to ancient to pre-modern cultural architecture in Southeast Asia.

The workshop will be co-organised by SAAAP and Vice Dean of Faculty of Arts UGM Dr. Mimi Savitri, M.A. (SOAS alumni), with support from Emma Natalya Stein, curator at the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian, Washington, who is negotiating an exhibition on Javanese Tantric mandalas. The exhibition will ultimately provide an international exhibition experience for invited Alphawood alumni.

Some of the highlights, including from Alphawood alumni, will be streamed. These will later be edited and widely distributed via the SOAS-SAAAP page (https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/schools-and-departments/school-arts/department-history-art-and-archaeology/southeast-asian).

More details on how to access the event online will be shared soon via https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/event/yogyakarta-summer-programme-2023