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Training Course: Curating Future: Museum for Sustainable Southeast Asia
June 4 @ 8:00 am - June 7 @ 5:00 pm
Theme: Interpretation for Tomorrow: Fostering Innovation and Enhancing Tomorrow’s Interpretation in Southeast Asia Museums
Date: 4th – 7th June 2025 (Online), 17th – 20th June 2025 (On-site)
Location: Ayutthaya, Thailand
Deadline of application: 16 April 2025
Working language: English
The International Council on Museums (ICOM) defines a museum as a not-for-profit, permanent institution dedicated to serving society by researching, collecting, conserving, interpreting, and exhibiting tangible and intangible heritage. Museums operate and communicate ethically and professionally, engaging communities and offering diverse experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection, and knowledge sharing (ICOM, 2022). As museums strive to fulfil this mission, they must navigate a rapidly evolving landscape shaped by technological innovation, changing visitor expectations, and the growing imperative to preserve and present diverse cultural narratives.
Museum interpretation, the practice of engaging audiences with collections and heritage, has become a cornerstone of a museum’s mission to educate and foster cultural understanding. However, many museum professionals face significant skill gaps in interpretation-related areas, hindering their ability to meet contemporary demands.
In response to these changes, SEAMEO SPAFA, under its 8th Five-Year Development Plan, has launched the training course on Curating Future: Museum for Sustainable Southeast Asia – Interpretation for Tomorrow. This forward-focused initiative aims to empower museum professionals across Southeast Asia with innovative tools and strategies in museum interpretation.
The course combines a hybrid format, featuring both online lectures and an onsite workshop scheduled for June 2025. It seeks to address critical gaps in museological knowledge, with a focus on contemporary theories, emerging trends, and integrated interpretive models and strategies.
The online lecture series, delivered via Zoom, will cover essential museum interpretation theories from the 1990s to the present Human-Centered interpretation, and will include sessions by renowned guest lecturers. The onsite workshop will be held at the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum in Ayutthaya.
A highlight of this initiative is the introduction of new integrated interpretation models drawn from the book Reimagined Heritage Interpretation by Dr. Russel Staiff, presented by his former PhD student, Dr. Raveedaon Montien. Additionally, the program will feature the Asia debut of original interpretation tools developed by Dr Nuntamon Kutalad, offering participants exclusive access to these cutting-edge resources.
By equipping museum professionals with advanced strategies and practical tools, Interpretation for Tomorrow reinforces SEAMEO SPAFA’s commitment to fostering excellence in museum practices across Southeast Asia. This initiative not only addresses current capacity gaps but also lays a strong foundation for the region’s museums to flourish in an increasingly interconnected world.
SEAMEO Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts (SEAMEO SPAFA), in collaboration with:
- The Fine Arts Department, Thailand
- Bmuse Bangkok
- Empower participants with forward-thinking skills and innovative interpretive approaches and strategies.
- Strengthening regional museum interpretation standards and aligning them with global museum trends.
For further information regarding the course, please contact: Dr Hatthaya Siriphatthanakun, SEAMEO SPAFA Senior Specialist in Cultural Heritage Management and/or Ms Melody Tan, SEAMEO SPAFA Researcher via mu_ift2025@seameo-spafa.org.
Application Deadline
Applications should reach SEAMEO SPAFA by 16 April 2025. Only successful applicants will be notified by 30 April 2025.
