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

Stevanaventi Asriuni Minarpradipta, a graduate student in the Master’s Program for Performance and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR) at UGM, demonstrates her prowess by taking on three crucial roles in the latest musical film by renowned director Garin Nugroho, “SIAPA DIA” (WHO IS SHE). Known affectionately as Achi Pradipta, this woman not only appears as a supporting actress but is also entrusted as a vocal coach, vocal arranger, and vocal director. Her involvement serves as proof that the academic world is capable of producing competent arts practitioners ready to contribute to the creative industry. read more

Two students from the Master’s Program in Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR) UGM, Febri Anugerah and Isradina Paricha, from the art collective Lelaku Studio, were participating artists in the Biennale Jatim XI, which took place from 20 August to 20 September 2025. The biennale, which is being held at the Pudak Gallery in Gresik, East Java, is themed Hantu Laut: The Spectre of The Sea and serves as a space to re-examine society’s relationship with the ocean. Lelaku Studio, active since 2018, is known for its distinctive artistic practice that merges archaeological research with material innovation. Their focus on repurposing High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic is not merely an aesthetic choice but also a principled stance aligned with sustainable production and environmental stewardship. 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

On 14 August 2025 at 2 pm, the welcoming session, titled “Beyond the Gate”, for postgraduate students in Performing Art and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR) took place at the Ullen Sentalu Museum, accompanied by the Mountain Piano Concerto. The inaugural event brought together Ullen Sentalu and PSPSR students from Gadjah Mada University. This concert featured Henk Mak van Dijk (Pianist), Asriuni Pradipta (Soprano), who is also a master’s programme student at PSPSR and Eko Balung (Violist). The students and other visitors in attendance enjoyed the concert. They expressed that the performance was awe-inspiring, particularly due to its location in an open and tranquil area of Ullen Sentalu. The MoU signing ceremony between PSPSR and Ullen Sentalu Museum was conducted following the performance session. The previously held musical performance was also a part of this collaboration. It is hoped that there will be increased collaboration between PSPSR and industry in the future, which will allow students to acquire new knowledge and experience. This initiative supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). (Hajar Aznam)
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