Arts and Culture

Project Updates

• Seeing Shared Heritage

  Published on 03 May 2012

  

  Shared Heritage: As we see it - A Travelling Exhibition, will be showcased at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Museum from 11 May – 13 June 2012.

  This exhibition was first launched in Penang, Malaysia last year with the 17th ASEF University programme. 41 participants from 31 ASEM countries participated in that 2-week programme. Later the exhibition travelled to Hungary (December 2011) and Romania (January 2012).

  We invite you to come and join us for the Singapore leg of this exhibition and experience shared heritage through the eyes of the AU17 participants.

  Read more...

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• Engaging the youth in cultural heritage preservation

  Published on 26 Aug 2011

  The 17th edition of ASEF University puts the spotlight on Heritage. Through various theoretical and highly interactive learning opportunities over a 2-week period, participants will explore various heritage-related issues and challenges, such as the notion of an Asian and European 'shared heritage' and the role of the youth as its stakeholders. This year’s edition will be held from 20 June - 01 July 2011, and is co-organised with the University Sains Malaysia (USM).

  Since 1998, the ASEF University programme has facilitated intercultural exchanges among undergraduate and graduate students and young professionals from Asia and Europe. It has also been successful in facilitating meaningful exchanges and lasting friendships among its participants.

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• 17th ASEF University kicks off in Penang

  Published on 26 Aug 2011

   

  

  ASEF University (AU) is an annual 2-week residency programme that aims to promote cross-cultural exchanges among youth from Asia and Europe. This year is the 17th edition and is themed, "Cultural Heritage: Challenges and Opportunities". AU17 engaged 41 students and young professionals from 31 ASEM countries. They stayed in Penang and for over 2 weeks, and participated in rigorous academic discourse, workshops and site visits.

  Participants of AU17 produced a photo exhibition entitled “Shared Heritage: As We See It”, held on 30 June 2011 at the Muzium dan Galeri Tuanku Fauziah. It featured photographs and videos taken by the participants which best represents what cultural heritage means to them. The exhibition may then travel to several countries in Asia and Europe as a lead up to the 5th ASEM Culture Ministers’ Meeting in Yogyakarta in 2012.

  View the photos from the programme

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• Cultural Heritage as seen by youthful eyes

  Published on 16 Aug 2011

   

  “Cultural heritage means any kind of cultural knowledge, built up over generations, constantly evolving and innovating”
  Janet Pillai, head of the Arts-ED organisation, Penang in Malaysia.

  “To relate cultural heritage to young people we have to make it lively, moving”
  Li Feng Kuah, visual programme officer at Arts-ED.

  Along these lines of thought, ASEF co-organised the 17th ASEF University (AU17): "Cultural Heritage: Challenges and Opportunities" with Universiti Science Malaysia (USM), in coordination with the Centre for Policy Research and International Studies (CenPRIS) in Penang, Malaysia (20 June-1 July). The programme is an outcome of the recommendations raised at the 4th ASEM Culture Ministers’ Meeting (CMM) in Poland (September 2010). It engaged 41 students and young professionals from 31 ASEM countries through rigorous academic discourse, workshops and site visits.

  The programme provided a space to share and learn about heritage from cross-cultural exchanges. As Petko Karadechev from Bulgaria, one of the participants of AU17 says: "Heritage gets shared via dialogue or a conversation, either verbal, within the family, with friends etc. or visual, constructing a building or a place where people can talk about it”.

  During the welcome dinner hosted by Y. Bhg. Prof. Tan Sri Dato’ Dzukifli Abdul Razak, Vice-chancellor, USM, the participants experienced Malaysia’s culinary heritage through a wide array of Malaysian delicacies.  They also explored George Town, a declared UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. It was an exciting experience for the participants as they travelled around by foot and in trishaws. As part of field visits, they also visited Pusat Giat Ilmu, Bedong, Kedah Darul Aman, to experience the Kampung (“village”) life.

  Towards the end of the programme, participants showcased an exhibition “Shared Heritage: As we see it”. It was launched and displayed at the USM's Muzium dan Galeri Tuanku Fauziah. It might travel to several ASEM countries and be presented in conjunction with the 5th ASEM Culture Ministers’ Meeting in Yogyakarta in 2012.

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• Bright young minds from Asia and Europe to discuss Cultural Heritage

  Published on 16 Aug 2011

  

   

  Highlights:

  • Among the topics to be discussed is the notion of a shared Asia and Europe heritage
  • To be held in Georgetown, Penang; a UNESCO World Heritage Site

  Themed “Cultural Heritage: Challenges and Opportunities”, the 17th ASEF University (AU17) generally aims to stimulate dialogue among students, young scholars, artists and young professionals from ASEM countries on cultural heritage.  The programme will gather up to 46 promising young people from Asia and Europe to explore their ideas on various topics related to the theme. AU17 will bring a wealth of perspectives on Cultural Heritage.

  AU17 will happen in the historic Malaysian State of Penang. Its capital – Georgetown – was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. During this two-week programme, the participants will discuss topics such as, but not limited to, the notion of a shared Asia and Europe heritage, various initiatives in heritage management and engaging the youth in its preservation. They will also have the opportunity to visit some of Georgetown’s notable sites.

  Since 1998, the ASEF University programme has facilitated intercultural exchanges among undergraduate and graduate students and young professionals from Asia and Europe. One of the programme’s key successes is that it facilitates meaningful exchanges and lasting friendships among its participants. “Through the constructive and facilitating environment of [the ASEF University programme], we can understand that all bridges are already built, we just need to cross them”, said Mr Tim Goudriaan from The Netherlands, a participant from the 16th ASEF University (AU16) in Lodz, Poland (2010).

  This year’s edition will be held from 19-30 June 2011, and is co-organised with the University Sains Malaysia (USM).  More information about the programme will be released on the ASEF website soon.

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