Yogyakarta, October 11–12, 2025 — Graduate students of the Master’s Program in Performing Art and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), conducted a field study at the Yogyakarta Cultural Festival (FKY) 2025, held at Logandeng Field, Playen, Gunungkidul. The activity served not only as an opportunity for observation but also as an experiential platform for students to actively engage in exploring the meanings of local participation, cultural practices, and ecological issues presented through the festival.
This field study is part of PSPSR’s academic agenda designed to deepen students’ understanding of cultural festivals as spaces for public dialogue and instruments of social transformation. Dr. Rr. Paramitha Dyah Fitriasari, S.Ant., M.Hum., emphasized the importance of direct field experience for contextualizing socio-cultural dynamics. “FKY provides an opportunity for us to observe how community participation grows from the grassroots, how public spaces are collectively managed, and how art becomes part of the effort to sustain the environment,” she explained.
On the first day, students explored the festival area while interacting with local residents, artists, and visitors. They observed how FKY 2025, themed Adoh Ratu, Cedhak Watu (“Far from the Queen, Close to the Stone”), cultivated a sense of togetherness and underscored human closeness to the land, history, and village ecology. The vibrant atmosphere, the aroma of local cuisine, and the diversity of participatory artworks created a multisensory experience that deepened students’ understanding of living and inclusive social spaces.
The following day, the PSPSR students visited the House of Menep to engage in dialogue with ABDW Art Project, one of FKY 2025’s commissioned artist collectives. The discussion unfolded warmly, focusing on artworks that addressed ecological issues and environmental crises as reflections of human–nature relationships. Students actively participated by posing questions and discussing artistic strategies as well as the ethics of artistic engagement within local communities.
Through this activity, PSPSR students learned that art is not merely a medium of expression but also a means of education, advocacy, and empowerment. The visit to FKY 2025 enriched their perspectives on sustainable art practices and strengthened PSPSR’s academic commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The program aligns directly with SDG 4 (Quality Education) through contextual and reflective learning; SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by highlighting citizen participation and community-based public space management; SDG 13 (Climate Action) through artworks addressing ecological concerns; SDG 15 (Life on Land) by emphasizing the balance between humans and nature; and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaboration among universities, artists, and local communities. (IP)
