SPAFA AFFAIRS by Wynette Puntuna

SYNOPSES

Brunei Darussalam Joins 4th SPAFA GBM

The fourth SPAFA GoverningBoard Meeting (GBM) highlightedthe first participation of BruneiDarussalam as a Member Country ofthe SPAFA Regional Centre. Duringthis meeting, held for the first timeoutside Thailand, Mr. Sumadi binSukaimi, Governing Board Memberof Brueni Darussa-lam, expressed hisgovernment's ap-preciation of theirmembership andtheir willingness tojoin all SPAFA pro-grammes and activi-ties.

Lasting fromOctober 2 to 4, 1989,the 4th GBM wascarried out at theGaruda Plaza Hotel in Medan, In-donesia. It was attended by the newlyappointed Governing Board Members,representing Brunei Darussalam,Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,Singapore and Thailand. They werejoined by the directors of SEAMESand SPAFA, as ex-officio membersof the Board.

The Government of France, asa SEAMEO Associate Member Coun-try, graced the meeting with the pre-sence of their representative whilehigh officials from SEAMES, SPAFA,and the External Relations Division,Ministry of Education, Thailand,

lent their support by attending asobservers.

Chaired by Prof Dr R.P. Soejo-no, Governing Board Member forIndonesia, the Board agreed, amongothers, that:* Prof MC Subhadradis Diskul bereappointed for another three-year

term as SPAFA Centre Director.

* Considering the possible duplica-tion of ASEAN-COCI activities onculture, SPAFA should have a dia-logue with ASEAN-COCI to ascer-tain the area of cooperation/colla-boration in order to avoid duplica-tion and overlapping.

* SPAFA should now proceed to actfor the recruitment of the SeniorSpecialist in Archaeology.

* The screening for SPAFA traineesshould be more stringent and thatcountry nominations should be sub-mitted to SPAFA in advance, accom-panied by names of several alternates,

in case the official nominee is unableto participate in the training.* Unused scholarship slots should beequally shared by Member Countriessubject to the SPAFA Centre Direc-tor's approval.* Brunei Darussalam could partici-pate in all programmes and activities

of SPAFA duringFY 1990/1991 on-wards, subject to theavailability of funds.* Subject to the ap-proval of the Gov-ernment of Thai-land and the availa-bility of funds in thesalary category, theproposal for infla-tion allowance of5% for professional

staff and 8% for the general staff ofSPAFA is approved.

Welcome Governing Board Members

June 30, 1989 bade farewell tothe first group of Governing BoardMembers for the SPAFA RegionalCentre. But July 1, 1989, welcomed a new set of SPAFA Governing BoardMembers. Except for the GoverningBoard Member from Brunei Darus-salam, whose government officiallyjoined SPAFA only on November 8,1988, the rest will be serving for1989-1992. They are:

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Brunei Darussalam- Mr Sumadi bin Sukaimi

(1988-1991)Head of CultureMinistry of Culture, Youth andSports

Indonesia- Professor Dr R.P. Soejono

(reappointed)DirectorNational Research Centre ofArchaeology

Malaysia- Mr Adi Haji Taha (reappointed)

Senior curator

Department of MuseumsPhilippines

- Father Gabriel S. CasalDirector of Philippine NationalMuseum and Head of the NationalCoordinating Unit Tor SPAFA

Singapore- Mr Foo Meng Liang

Deputy Secretary (Culture)Ministry of Community Develop-ment

Thailand- Mr Taveesak Senanarong

(reappointed)Director-GeneralDepartment of Fine Arts

SPAFA Holds 5th Advance Train-ing Course in Underwater Ar-chaeology

The fifth Advance TrainingCourse in Underwater Archaeologywas held from March 1 to May 29,1989 in Chantaburi Province, Thai-land. This course was attended by tenrepresentatives from Indonesia, Ma-laysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.It was jointly organized by SPAFAand the Underwater ArchaeologyProject, Division of Archaeology,Thai Department of Fine Arts.

The training course concentrat-ed on the re-excavation of the 18lhcentury Samed Ngam shipwreck,which is actually on a dock. Lyingon the edge of Chantaburi River, thesite enabled the study of the ship'sstructure.

Experts from France, Canadaand the USA guided the trainees.Together they excavated the ship-

wreck's site todiscover the re-mains of the24x8 metersancient Chinesejunk ship. Theyalso worked tofind ways andmeans of pre-serving theship's presentstate.

The course,which was fa-vourably cover-ed by the Thaipress and tele-

vision, also included field trips todifferent museums, kiln sites, monu-ments and historical parks in thenorth of Thailand. Under the presentSPAFA Five-Year Development Plan,this course is the second to the last inthe series of six. January to March1991 is the expected schedule for thelast Advance Training Course inUnderwater Archaeology.

Training Course on Palynology

Nine trainees from governmentmuseums, research centres, and uni-versities represented Indonesia, thePhilippines and Thailand in the re-cently concluded SPAFA TrainingCourse on Palynology. The course,held in the Philippins, from July 9 to September 9, 1989, was jointlyorganized by SPAFA with the Philip-pine National Museum.

This intensive two-month coursewas primarily designed to developskills for collecting and analyzingrecoveries of pollen and spores fromsediments. The course curriculum,developed in the Philippines, providedtheoretical, field and laboratoryaspects of pollen analytical work.Moreover, it placed emphasis onmethods for efficient collection ofpollen samples and on identificationof specific pollen and spore typeswith particular attention on Philippinetaxa.

During this SPAFA activity, themajority of the time was spent atthe microscope/processing samples,which provided practical experienceunder the direction the PhilippineNational Museum's expert staffs.Considerations of archaeology, paleo-botany, Philippine vegetation, her-barium techniques, pollen morphology

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and pollen diagrams enhanced instruc-tions in sampling and identification.

Among the reasons whichprompted the SPAFA Regional Cen-tre to implement the course, foremostis the need to increase interest andconcern for the study of ecologicalhistory and to arouse awareness inthe use of palynology as a tool inSoutheast Asian studies.

SPAFA Centre Director Attends UNESCO's Consultative Meeting

The SPAFA Centre director,Prof MC Subhadradis Diskul, attend-ed the Consultative Meeting for theRepresentatives of Regional and Sub-Regional Networks of Research andCo-operation in the Field of CulturalDevelopment, organized by UNESCOand the Council of Europe from June29 to July 1, 1989. The meeting aimedto promote the exchange of infor-mation on work carried out for ongo-ing research and on future projectsforeseen in the different networks.

Offering the opportunity forreviewing ways and means of improv-ing information and coordinationas well as for studying the possibilityof undertaking joint projects, themeeting was composed by representa-tives of 19 organizations located inEurope, Africa, and Asia.

Among others, the meeting re-commended that UNESCO supportthe creation and development, at theregional and sub-regional level, ofprofessional associations in the fieldof research, documentation and train-ing in cultural development; promoteand support the cooperation amongcentres and networks of industrializedcountries in favour of research andtraining institutions of developing

countries — theform of this aidto be technicalassistance, docu-mentation, ex-change of per-sonnel, etc.; andgive priority tojoint projectsand studies oncultural deve-lopment withinthe frameworkof projects sub-mitted for as-sistance under UNESCO's Participa-tion Programme.

Held at the Office of the Coun-cil of Europe in Paris, France, theConsultative Meeting certainly broughtabout an exchange of views on on-going and planned research activitieswithin the different cooperation net-works and the search for possibleways to achieve better informationand coordination among specializedcentres and institutions belonging todifferent networks as well as leadingto the setting up of joint projects.

Moreover, the meeting provedto be an opportune occasion forProf MC Subhadradis to acquaintothers of the concerns and activitesof the SPAFA Regional Centre.

ICCROM Supports SPAFA

Seminar

The International Centre forthe Study of the Preservation and theRestoration of Cultural Property(ICCROM) paid for the travel ex-penses of the SPAFA Member Coun-try participants to the seminar on"Conservation Standards in South-cast Asia". This seminar, consisting

of museum, archaeology departmentand conservation laboratory directors,was held in Bangkok from the 12thto the 15th of December 1989.

This gathering of experts wasSPAFA's reply to the felt need toraise Southeast Asia's standard ofconservation by constant training andresearch. The seminar formulatedan action plan and strategy for sucha task.

During this activity, Mr O.P.Agrawal, Director of the NationalResearch Laboratory for Conserva-tion of Culture Property in Lucknow,India, and Vice-Chairman of theICCROM Council, was present asa resource person. Each participantof the seminar presented a reportcovering the extent and types of cul-tural properties present in his countryas well as the status of conservationfacilities, problems of conservationand the availability of training andresearch infrastructures.Proposed Research Project on Dance and Drama

The proposal to document the"Current Problems and Prospectsof Dance and Drama Education in

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Southeast Asia" recently took formwhen Dr Chua Soo Pong conducted a preliminary survey in Kuching, BandarSeri Begawan and Juala Lumpur.

During this seven-day mission,in early July 1989, Dr Chua visitedthe Kuching Ballet Academy, SarawakMuseum, Sarawak's Cultural Village,Brunei Darussalam's Ministry of Cul-ture, Youth and Sports and its Dance.Company, Brunei Arts and Handi-crafts Centre, Brunei National Mu-seum, Malay Technology Museum,University of Brunei Darussalam,Museum of Asian Art of the Univer-sity of Malaya, and the Suasan DanceCompany.

The primary aim ofthis research project is toassess the current issues indance and drama educationin the region. The danceand drama activities inselected schools will bedocumented on video tapeswhich will be used as database for public libraries,universities, colleges andart schools.

Furthermore, the re-search project will study theteaching materials on dance,music and drama used inschools and colleges. DrChua, leader of this re-search project, hopes that, with theco-researchers in the SEAMEO Mem-ber Countries, the project could helpproduce high quality video tapes andpublications promoting the greaterappreciation and understanding ofthe enormous varieties of danceforms and folk dramas existing inSoutheast Asia. He says, "The aware-ness of our rich cultural heritage will

undoubtedly enhance the culturalidentity of the young students."

Artists and Their Role in Modem Everyday Life

From June 20 to 30, 1989, nineof Asia's most outstanding artists metin a joint effort to further developtheir respective cultural arts and tostrengthen the artists' roles in thepreservation of the national identity.The auspicious occasion, titled theSPAFA Workshop for Artists andTheir Role in Modern Everyday Life,was held at the Sabang Hotel ofJakarta, Indonesia.

The workshop was made pos-sible through the cooperation of theDirectorate General of Culture, Mi-nistry of Education and Culture ofIndonesia. During the ten-day activity,the Southeast Asian artists, represent-ing various fields of arts and theSPAFA Member Countries, assessedthe cultural and artistic activities intheir own countries.

Observation tours were alsoconducted during the meeting toenable the participants to find ways ofimparting his skills, knowledge andexperiences to the community peopleby stimulating artistic and recreationalactivities. During the workshopdiscussions participants identifiedproblems hindering on creative andrecreative activities/expression. Theyraised issues of concern regarding thestate of national culture and culturalidentity.

In the final sessions of theworkshop, the participants gave re-commendations for the various cate-

gories of arts. Among theseare: implimentation ofyouth programmes; re-search in the use of indige-nous art materials such asdyes, pigments, etc.; thecompilation, in textbookform, of the art histories ofthe different SoutheastAsian countries.

Likewise, they recom-mended the organization oftravelling and exchange ex-hibitions in all forms oftwo-dimensional and threedimensional arts in coun-tries and within the South-east Asian region; the doc-umentation of traditional

and contemporary art activities; cul-tural artist/scholar exchange pro-grammes; and awards, as incentivefor Southeast Asian artists.

Lastly, the artists unanimouslyexpressed their wish for SPAFA toencourage similar forums for artistsin the various categories of art, withinthe Southeast Asia region. This,according to them, could update and

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identify the growing needs of eachcountry in art, relevant to the mo-dernization of each nation.

Personnel Exchange Programme

Prof Virginia Agbayani, throughthe SPAFA Personnel Exchange Pro-gramme, assisted in the preliminarysurvey of the proposed SPAFA Re-search Project on Textbook Develop-ment for Art Education in SoutheastAsia in June 1989.

A Professor Emeritus of FineArts at the University of the Philip-pines, Prof Agbayani is one of thePhilippines' foremost art educators.She is also not new to SPAFA; from 1980 to 1987, she was Director of theSPAFA Sub-Centre for the Philip-pines. At present she is the WorldCouncilor, for Southeast Asia and thePacific, of the International Societyfor Education Through Art (INSEA).

Prof Agbayani was invited bySPAFA through the initiative of ProfBertoldo J. Mania, SPAFA SeniorSpecialist in Visual Arts and theProject Leader for the Research Pro-ject on Textbooks Development forArt Education in Southeast Asia. Inthe preliminary survey, both profes-sors identified institutions and uni-versities involved in the developmentof art education. During the survey,they also laid out the criteria for theimplementation of the research pro-ject.

Although the proposed re-search project has already gained a US$ 5,000.00 support from UNESCO'sInternational Fund for the Promotionof Culture, it is still needful of finan-cial support for full implementation.This project on Textbooks Develop-ment for Art Education in Southeast

Asia covers the performing arts ofdance, drama and music, the func-tional and non-Functional arts anddesign, in addition to visual arts,architecture and the mass media.

The research project is intendedto provide provocative insights intothe methods of teaching and the useof appropriate textbooks and teach-ing materials for art education. It is,according to Prof Manta, envisionedto facilitate more effective planningof national art education programmes.

SPRFA Library and Documenta-tion Services

Since the reconstitution ofSPAFA into a regional centre in 1987,the Library and DocumentationServices of SPAFA has undergonechanges. It is now divided into fourunits, namely: Library, ClearingHouse, Documentation, and Audio-Visual. Prof Khunying MaenmasChavalit, SPAFA Library and Docu-mentation Officer, explains the newset up as follows:

The Library Unit

The library's collection consistsof monographs (books), serials (oc-casional papers issued in series, pro-fessional journals), research reports,reports on seminars/meetings/sym-posium and training courses, and

clippings on archaeology, fine artsand other related subjects.

The catalogue of materialsreceived by the library during theperiod 1975-1989 are in card formats.For materials on archaeology and finearts, a union catalogue is available.However, starting from 1989, thegeneral cataloging of the library willbe computerized and outputs fromthe data base will be in the form ofcomputer disk or hard copy, as re-quested by users.

The Clearing House Unit

This unit undertakes the editingand publication of information mate-rials related to SPAFA and its activi-ties; storing, distribution and manage-ment of all publications produced bythe unit.

The Documentation Unit

Concentrating on the docu-mentation of archaeology and thefine arts, this unit selects and pro-cesses information data on relevantsubjects, the outputs of which arein the form of subject bibliographies.The unit also collects data on anti-quities and compiles directories ofhistorical and archaeological sites andmonuments of Southeast Asia as wellas reading lists on special subjectsfor SPAFA training courses/work-shops.

The Audio-Visual Unit

Mainly for the reproduction ofthe Regional Centre's informationmaterials, this unit is also responsiblefor the acquisition, processing, main-tenance and servicing of audio-visualmaterials for use in the documenta-tion of SPAFA activities.