Yogyakarta, 27 November 2025 — A total of 21 students from the Graduate Program of Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR) participated in a lecture on Art and Education delivered by Dr. Bayu Tejo Sampurno, M.A. The session aimed to broaden students’ understanding of the position of art within contemporary educational contexts and to examine the relationship between artistic practice, pedagogy, and sociocultural dynamics.

In his presentation, Bayu Tejo Sampurno emphasized the importance of understanding the current development of art and education, including how educators must cultivate engagement and relevance in their teaching approaches. Creativity-based and student-centered pedagogical strategies were highlighted as key components in effective arts education. read more

On October 29, 2025, the fourth Forum Rabu Wagen took place at the Graduate School, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Featuring two Doctoral program students as speakers and attended by about 10 students of the performing arts and visual arts studies program. The first speaker, Ashar Murdihastomo, with the title of his presentation, Perubahan Visual Arca Batu Siwa Mahadewa Abad ke 14-15 Masehi di Jawa: Kajian atas Ketidakhadiran Ikon Khusus Tokoh Dewa, provided in-depth knowledge sharing on the topic. The second speaker was Anon Suneko with the topic title, Gending Pakualaman Yogyakarta Periode Paku Alam IX – Awal Dekade Paku Alam X: Garap dan Identitas. This is an interesting topic that has attracted students who want to delve further into related areas. Through this forum session, students can not only understand new topics in art studies but also be inspired to improve the quality of their studies, enabling them to make new contributions in their fields. This once-a-month event will be held again this November with two more speakers who will share their latest research results. This activity supports SDG 4 – Quality Education, by fostering academic dialogue and knowledge sharing among doctoral students, encouraging research development, and enhancing the quality of higher education in the arts. (Hajar Aznam)
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Delfin Febriansyah, a PSPSR student, achieved a remarkable accomplishment by being selected as a participant in the Indo-Tekno Scenography Workshop 2025. This intensive three-day workshop took place from September 25 to 27, 2025, at the UGM Creativity and Innovation Arena, featuring three prominent scenography experts from the University of Melbourne: Matt Scott, Martyn Coutts, and Anna Cordingley.

This innovative workshop explored the synthesis between lighting, digital media, projection, sets, and costumes in creating captivating scenographic worlds. This integrated approach serves as the key to developing the modern performing arts industry that combines technology with traditional aesthetics. read more

The 3rd Forum Rabu Wagen session was held on September 17, 2025. Two speakers from the Doctoral Program in Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR) at UGM were presenting their current research progress. The first speaker is Agustinus Sani Aryanto, with his topic “De(Re)Sakralisasi Gamelan Gambang: Pergulatan Musik Tradisi Bali,” where he discusses the important process of preserving and revitalising the Gamelan Gambang. It’s such an interesting discussion where the participant actively engaged with the issue that had been brought up. The second speaker is Hanafi Husni Mubaroq with his topic Pengembangan Konsep Ergonomi yang Komprehensif terhadap Parameter Keberhasilan Museum sebagai Wahana Edukasi Publik. read more

Yogyakarta, September 19th, 2025 – The Master’s Program in Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR) at Universitas Gadjah Mada, in collaboration with Prof. Scott Thurston and Dr. Joanna Omylinska-Thurston from the University of Salford, held the “Interlude Space: Expressive Arts for Well-Being” workshop. This event was part of the Arts for the Blues parallel session, an initiative focused on utilizing art as a medium for self-reflection and healing.

The workshop was a collaboration between Teman Ketjil, a program initiated by PSPSR UGM students (Dharajatya Tri Paramatatwai, Namira Azzahra, and Yohanna Simanjutak), and two facilitators from the University of Salford: Prof. Scott Thurston and Dr. Joanna Omylinska-Thurston. read more

Yogyakarta, September 19th 2025 – The Master’s Program in Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR) at Universitas Gadjah Mada hosted a guest lecture titled “Arts for the Blues: Bridging the Arts and Psychotherapy”. The event aimed to explore the intersection of the arts and psychotherapy, with a focus on a pioneering program developed at the University of Salford, UK. The lecture was delivered by Professor Scott Thurston and Dr. Joanna Omylinska-Thurston, two distinguished academics from the University of Salford. read more

A second Forum Rabu Wagen session was held on August 20, 2025. The session began with a welcoming speech from Dr. Budi Irawanto to the participants, especially the new students attending the Rabu Wagen Forum session for the first time, which was organised by the Doctoral Program in Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR) at UGM. Twenty-two postgraduate students attended the second event of the year. Two speakers who are also doctoral students of PSPSR, namely Terra Bajraghosa and Agustinus Paulus Umbu Tali, were selected to present their research progress. Terra Bajraghosa initiated the knowledge-sharing session, titled “Exploring the Identity of Independent Comics.” The research scheme shared was comprehensive and inspiring. read more

Yogyakarta, August 23, 2025 – The Master’s Program in Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR), Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada, held its second dissemination forum, “Gelar Jejak #2 – Technology of Enchantment,” on Saturday (23/8). This forum provided a reflective and dialogical space for alumsto present their thesis research and engage with the public.

Moderated by Heni Siswantari, the event featured two presenters:

Rifa Fitriana, S.Sn., M.A., delivered her research “The Allure of Flow-Art in Flownesia’s Fire Dance Performances.” She explained how fire dance transcends physical performance, becoming a symbolic space that combines technical agency, visual aesthetics, and representation of identity. The incorporation of flow techniques emphasises integration between local traditional values and modern technological advancements. read more

The Graduate Program in Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR), Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada, continues its initiative Ngobrol Tesis—a discussion forum designed to share academic insights in a conversational yet informative format. The program invites PSPSR alumni to share their experiences, research processes, and findings from their master’s theses, from initial ideas to final outcomes.

In this edition, the featured speaker was Ramdani Rachmat, S.Sn., M.A. (PSPSR Alumnus, 2022 Even Semester), presenting his thesis entitled “Art and Cultural Memory: A Case Study on the Wanar Dance and the Banda Genocide in Maluku.” The discussion was moderated by Delfin Febriansyah, S.Sn. (PSPSR Student, 2024 Odd Semester). read more

The Graduate Program in Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has released a new episode of Ngobrol Tesis, a discussion program now available as a podcast. This edition features two PSPSR alums from the 2022 odd semester cohort: M. Ismail Hamsyah, S.Ant., M.A., and Muhammad Yudi Eko Nugroho, S.Pd., M.A., who shared insights on the role of sound engineers in both traditional and contemporary performing arts.

Ismail presented his research on sound engineering in the Ramayana Ballet performance at Prambanan through his thesis entitled “Suara-Suara Peracik Bunyi: Kajian Artistik dan Estetik Sound Engineer Gamelan Sendratari Ramayana Prambanan”. He emphasised how artistic and aesthetic aspects significantly contribute to shaping the audience’s auditory experience. read more