Yogyakarta, November 7th, 2025 – In commemoration of National Wayang Day which celebrated annually on November 7th, CEMPALA (Centre for Multidisciplinary Puppetry Arts Learning and Appreciation) is proud to present “Wayang World 2025,” a comprehensive celebration showcasing the global, diverse, and modern dimensions of this Indonesian art—recognized as a world intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. ​The event organized in association with esteemed institutions, including Yale University Art Gallery, Ullen Sentalu Museum, Sonobudoyo Museum, and Universitas Gadjah Mada (PSPSR and FIB), held on Friday, November 7, 2025, utilizing a hybrid format (online and on-site). ​To reach a global audience, the event is also available for live streaming via Cempala’s website (www.cempala.com), Ullen Sentalu’s YouTube Channel, and Zoom Meeting, adapting to different time zones. 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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Bandung, October 22, 2025 — The Leader’s Summit Pascasarjana, a strategic forum that brings together Heads and Coordinators of Graduate Programs in Art, Design, and Art Education from various universities across Indonesia, was once again successfully held. This forum serves as a platform for dialogue and collaboration to strengthen the academic direction of art and design studies amidst the rapidly changing times.

Initiated in 2024, this year’s summit carried the theme “Strengthening Collaboration Among Graduate Programs in Art, Design, and Art Education in Indonesia,” and took place at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI), Bandung. The main focus of the forum is to enhance creativity, research capacity, and managerial strength of study programs to effectively respond to the challenges of research-based and innovative higher education. read more

The Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada held a solemn Graduation Ceremony for Period 1 of Academic Year 2025/2026. This festive event was enlivened by students from the Master’s Program in Performing and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR), Janur Pusparukmi and Rusnandi, who performed the Ronggeng Nyentrik Dance.

The involvement of both PSPSR students in this prestigious event demonstrates the study program’s commitment to integrating theory and practice in performing arts. The Ronggeng Nyentrik Dance presented is a form of traditional art preservation packaged with contemporary interpretation, reflecting the continuously evolving dynamics of Indonesian culture. read more

Yogyakarta, 22 October 2025 — Universitas Gadjah Mada once again held its graduation ceremony for postgraduate students on Wednesday, 22 October 2025. This event marked a historic milestone for graduates who have completed their academic journeys at the master’s and doctoral levels. The solemn ceremony took place at the Grha Sabha Pramana (GSP) building from morning until noon, followed by individual faculty and school ceremonies.

From the Doctoral Program in Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR)at the UGM Graduate School, two doctoral students were officially conferred their degrees: Dr. Panakajaya Hidayatullahand Dr. R. Bima S. Raharja. Both graduates achieved remarkable academic accomplishments and made significant contributions to research in the fields of art and culture. The Graduate School’s ceremony continued at the UGM Postgraduate Building, featuring remarks from school leaders and academic supervisors who expressed their appreciation for the graduates’ dedication and scholarly excellence. read more

Yogyakarta, 22 October 2025 — Universitas Gadjah Mada held its Postgraduate Graduation Ceremony on Wednesday, 22 October 2025, at the Grha Sabha Pramana (GSP) building. This solemn academic event marked a significant milestone for graduates who have completed their scholarly journey at the master’s and doctoral levels. The ceremony proceeded smoothly and concluded on schedule, followed by individual recognition events held at each respective faculty and school.

From the Graduate Program in Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR), fourteen master’s students were officially conferred their degrees. Among them, eleven graduates achieved the cum laude distinction, while three graduates received the very satisfactory predicate. These achievements reflect the dedication, perseverance, and academic excellence of PSPSR students throughout their studies and research in the fields of art and culture. read more

Logandeng, October 18, 2025 — Tiang Senja, a student from the Master’s Program in Performing Art and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR) at Universitas Gadjah Mada, participated as an artist-participant in the Gelaran Olah Rupa (Visual Arts Exhibition) of the Yogyakarta Cultural Festival (FKY) 2025. Tiang Senja, alongside Nabila Rahma, collaborated with the Gunungkidul Artists Association (Ikatan Perupa Gunungkidul) in creating an artwork titled Gelu.

Gelaran Olah Rupa served as a meeting space for artists from various regions, emphasizing collaborative processes, research, and the cultivation of social relations. This activity was part of the Residensi Pekan Sowan (Visiting Week Residency), a program that convened nine artist collectives in diverse areas of Gunungkidul. Tiang Senja and Nabila Rahma, together with Ikatan Perupa Gunungkidul, undertook a residency in the Giring, Sodo, Paliyan, Gunungkidul region. During the residency, they explored several significant sites, such as the Pesarean (Tomb) of Ki Ageng Giring, Watu Gowang River, Watu Lumpang (Mortar Stone), and Mount Bagus. This journey not only provided geological insights but also fostered a spiritual and ecological understanding of the human relationship with land and water. The Giring–Sodo region demonstrated the interconnectedness between local knowledge, tradition, and the community’s daily life with their natural environment. read more

Yogyakarta, October 11–12, 2025 — Students of the Master’s Program in Performing and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR), Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), once again embodied cross-disciplinary and cross-spatial learning through a field study at the Yogyakarta Cultural Festival (FKY) 2025, themed Adoh Ratu Cedhak Watu and held in Logandeng, Playen, Gunungkidul. This activity served as a meeting ground between theory and practice, as well as a celebration of culture, art, and sustainability in harmony with UGM’s academic spirit. read more

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. read more

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