Seameo-SPAFA

07/10/2026

🚀 WE’RE HIRING! | CREATE. CONNECT. COMMUNICATE.
Do you love culture, creativity, stories and digital media?
Want to help bring Southeast Asian knowledge and heritage to audiences around the world? 🌏✨

SEAMEO SPAFA is looking for two creative minds to join our team!

🧠 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT OFFICER – CONTENT CREATOR
Turn knowledge into stories.
✍️ Write • 🎥 Create • 💡 Storytell • 📱 Engage
Develop engaging content about Southeast Asian archaeology, fine arts, and cultural heritage for our digital platforms.

🎨 COMMUNICATION DESIGNER
Turn ideas into visuals.
🎨 Design • 📊 Visualise • 🎬 Animate • ✨ Inspire
Create graphics, campaigns, infographics, digital content and visual materials that bring SEAMEO SPAFA’s stories to life.

🌏 WHY JOIN US?
Be part of a regional organisation connecting people, knowledge, culture and heritage across Southeast Asia and beyond.

📍 Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Think you’re the creative talent we’re looking for?
Bring your ideas. Bring your creativity. Bring your perspective.

👉 Apply now and create something meaningful with us!
https://forms.gle/kP7Q7i24awNWxcXW7

For further information https://www.seameo-spafa.org/we-r-hiring-join-seameo-spafa-application-deadline-15-nov-2026/

02/10/2026

🏛️ KHMER OBJECTS IN MOTION: Provenance, Dispersal, and Repatriation?

Where have Khmer cultural objects travelled—and what can their journeys tell us about history, heritage, collecting, and repatriation?

Join an international public online seminar bringing together 30+ scholars, archaeologists, museum professionals, provenance researchers, heritage practitioners, and legal experts from Cambodia, Thailand and beyond. 🌏

📅 9 October 2026
⏰ 8:30 am–5:15 pm (GMT +7)
💻 Online via Zoom
💰 Free of charge
🗣️ English

Whether you are a heritage professional, researcher, student, museum practitioner or simply interested in Southeast Asian cultural heritage, this full-day programme offers an opportunity to explore how Khmer heritage has moved across borders—and how its future might be shaped.

👉 Register and view the full programme:
https://khmerstudies.org/online-seminar-khmer-objects-in-motion/

Organized by the Center for Khmer Studies (CKS) and the École française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO) Siem Reap Center, this full-day online seminar brings together

01/10/2026

📢📚 Unseen Heritage: Southeast Asian Myths & Lore

What if your next journey took you into the worlds of local lore? 🕯️🌲
🦇🎃 As October unfolds, this latest Curated Heritage invites you to explore the captivating supernatural traditions of Southeast Asia through 5 selected books from the SPAFA Library.

From Thailand’s haunting ghost lore and Myanmar’s sacred spirit worship (Nats) to Lao origin tales, Filipino nocturnal creatures, and ancient Pacific seafaring legends…..each title reveals the rich beliefs and shared folklore that define our region’s unseen heritage. 👻

✨But which Southeast Asian mythic persona matches your spirit, and which book will you discover next?🧐

👉 Try our Book Matchmaker here: https://tally.so/r/44bpyA
(Or scan the QR code on the poster!)

📍 Visit the SPAFA Library
🕘 Monday–Friday (except public holidays), 09:00-16:00 hrs
🔎 Explore more titles via the SPAFA E-Library Catalogue:
🌐 http://203.146.186.3/elib/

26/09/2026

✨ Sharing Traditional Knowledge on Conservation of Lacquerware in Thailand and Myanmar ✨

SEAMEO SPAFA hosted a full-day knowledge-sharing activity on 25 September bringing together specialists, practitioners and participants to explore the traditions, techniques, craftsmanship and conservation of Thailand and Myanmar lacquerware.

The activity featured presentations on lacquerware in Bagan, the making of Myanmar lacquerware, and the traditional conservation of Thai lacquer heritage, followed by practical demonstrations and a hands-on conservation session.

🎨 Featured speakers and specialists included:
• Ms. Ohnmar Myo, Project Coordinator, Myanmar
• Ms. Victoria Theint, Lacquerware Specialist, Thammasat University Rangsit
• Ms. Supapon Saiprasit, Office of Traditional Arts, Fine Arts Department, Thailand

🌏 Through the sharing of traditional knowledge across borders, we continue to strengthen regional understanding and support the preservation of Southeast Asia’s diverse cultural heritage.

25/09/2026

📣 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS | SPAFACON 2027

🌏 Advancing Southeast Asian Archaeology, Fine Arts & Cultural Heritage

SPAFACON 2027 invites you to share your research, ideas, and perspectives at this leading regional platform for interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration.

📍 14–16 June 2027
🏛️ Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

🔎 Thematic areas include:
🔹 Scientific Approaches to Analysing and Conserving Archaeological Heritage in Southeast Asia
🔹 Maritime and Riverine Networks and Cultural Landscapes
🔹 Religion, Ritual, Performance, and Cosmological Knowledge in Southeast Asia
🔹 Climate and Disaster Resilience in Heritage
🔹 Heritage Education, Capacity Building, and Communication
🔹 Museums and Collection Care in Southeast Asia
🔹 Heritage Management, Governance, and Sustainable Development
🔹 Shared Heritage in Southeast Asia
🔹 Emerging Methodologies for Heritage Conservation
🔹 General Session

🗓️ Abstract Submission Deadline: 30 November 2026

👉 Submit your abstract and find out more:
SPAFACON 2027 Website: https://www.seameo-spafa.org/spafacon2027/callforabstracts.html
Call for Abstracts: https://forms.gle/7GJYwNC8bbx3dgxT7

✨ Share your work and ideas to the conversation. Connect with colleagues from across Southeast Asia and beyond, and contribute to shaping new perspectives on our region’s diverse heritage.

23/09/2026

📢 Career Opportunity in Historic Preservation & Architectural Conservation

Are you an experienced scholar, educator, or practitioner in architectural conservation, heritage materials science, or historic preservation?

The University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design is inviting applications for an Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor in Historic Preservation – Conservation.
The position offers an opportunity to contribute to graduate-level teaching, research, field-based practice, and the advancement of architectural conservation and heritage preservation. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to engage with the School’s interdisciplinary community spanning architecture, landscape architecture, planning, fine arts and preservation.

🔎 Areas of interest include:
• Architectural conservation and heritage materials science
• Conservation research and practice
• Laboratory-based analysis and teaching
• Field-based conservation and preservation
• Historic preservation education and research

📅 Review of applications begins: 1 November 2026
📍 Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
🎓 Position: Assistant / Associate / Full Professor
📅 Expected start: 1 July 2027

🌏 We encourage colleagues and professionals working across cultural heritage, conservation, archaeology, architecture and related fields to share this opportunity with their networks.

👉 View the full position details and apply: https://apply.interfolio.com/187657

11/09/2026

🚨 Seats are filling fast! Have you registered yet? 🚨

✨ Preserving Heritage: Traditional Knowledge on Lacquerware Conservation in Thailand & Myanmar 🇹🇭🇲🇲

Discover traditional conservation knowledge, watch live demonstrations, and get hands-on experience with regional experts.

🎨 Special opportunity: Bring your own lacquerware item for expert assessment and hands-on conservation treatment!

📅 25 September 2026 (Friday)
⏰ 08:30–16:00
📍 SEAMEO SPAFA Building

👩‍🎨 Featuring:
🇹🇭 Ms Supapon Saiprasit
🇲🇲 Ms Victoria Theint

🔗 Register now:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScsCi_mNZyZDONoa1kMTZWLn-8JaKE8FIWF_Vm7tkjPqwpvqw/viewform

🔴 Limited to 30 participants — secure your place before it’s full!

09/09/2026

🏛️ Thai Museums Day 2026: Thai Museums – The Bridges Uniting the World

SEAMEO SPAFA was pleased to be part of Thai Museums Day 2026, under the theme “Thai Museums: The Bridges Uniting the World” (พิพิธภัณฑ์ไทยเชื่อมโลก), held at Siwamok Phiman Hall, Bangkok National Museum.

The event brought together museum professionals, cultural practitioners and heritage advocates to explore the vital role of museums in connecting people, knowledge and cultures across borders.

Dr Hatthaya Siriphatthanakun, Centre Director of SEAMEO SPAFA, joined the panel discussion in exploring how Thai museums and cultural heritage foster regional and international collaboration on the world stage.

The gathering also served as a special moment of connection for SEAMEO SPAFA itself, as the panel included former Centre Director Mrs. Somlak Charoenpot. Having two women leaders who have guided the Centre—representing both past and present—highlighted SPAFA’s enduring legacy of women in cultural leadership.

🌏 Museums connect the past with the present—and build bridges towards a shared future.

#พิพิธภัณฑ์ไทยเชื่อมโลก

07/09/2026

🌏 JEDI + SPAFA International Conference 2026

Re-imagining Vernacular Heritage and Tourism Futures

SEAMEO SPAFA is pleased to be part of the JEDI + SPAFA International Conference 2026, held on 7–8 September 2026 at Kantary Hills Hotel, Chiang Mai, Thailand, organised collaboratively by the Journal of Environmental Design Innovation (JEDI), Faculty of Architecture, Chiang Mai University, and SEAMEO SPAFA.

The conference brings together researchers, practitioners and heritage professionals to explore new perspectives on vernacular heritage, sustainable development, climate resilience and the future of heritage tourism.

Dr Hatthaya Siriphatthanakun, Centre Director of SEAMEO SPAFA, delivered remarks at the Opening Ceremony, highlighting the importance of regional collaboration and knowledge exchange in safeguarding vernacular heritage for future generations.

The conference also features Dr Rohit Jigyasu, Programme Director of SEAMEO SPAFA, as a Keynote Speaker. His keynote presentation, “Vernacular Heritage as a Source of Traditional Knowledge for Disaster and Climate Resilience Housing: Challenges and Opportunities,” explores how traditional knowledge embedded in vernacular architecture can contribute to more resilient and sustainable approaches to housing in the face of disasters and climate change.

Also, Dr Ian Tan, Managing Editor of SPAFA Journal, worked closely with co-organiser Dr Jaturong Pokharatsiri over several months to solicit and shortlist conference papers. Selected papers from the conference will be published in an upcoming special issue of the SPAFA Journal.

01/09/2026

✨ Preserving Heritage: Sharing Traditional Knowledge on Conservation of Lacquerware in Thailand and Myanmar ✨

Join us for an immersive, full-day knowledge-sharing programme exploring traditional lacquerware conservation techniques from Thailand and Myanmar!

Gain direct insights from regional experts, watch live conservation demonstrations, and get practical experience through our interactive hands-on session.

Event Details
📅 Date: Friday, 25 September 2026
⏰ Time: 08:30 – 16:00
📍 Venue: SEAMEO SPAFA

Featured Specialists
- Ms. Supapon Saiprasit — Art Technician (Highly Skilled Level), Office of Traditional Arts, Fine Arts Department, Thailand

- Ms. Victoria Theint — Lacquerware Specialist, Thammasat Museum of Anthropology

Programme Highlights
- In-depth talks by conservation specialists from Thailand and Myanmar
- Live demonstrations of traditional conservation methods
- Hands-on workshop session

🔍 Special Feature: You can bring your own lacquerware items for assessment and hands-on conservation treatment by our experts!

🔗 Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScsCi_mNZyZDONoa1kMTZWLn-8JaKE8FIWF_Vm7tkjPqwpvqw/viewform?usp=header
🔴 Limited to only 30 seats! 🔴