Sustainable Arts and Crafts Institute of Thailand (SACIT) is proud to host the 1st National Academic Symposium on Arts and Crafts, "SACIT Symposium 2025" under the theme “Crafting Sustainability across ASEAN and Beyond” The event will take place on August 7–8, 2025, at SACIT in Bang Sai District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province.

This marks the first academic platform in Thailand dedicated to traditional crafts, bringing together experts, artists, artisans, and partner organizations from across Asia. The event will explore knowledge exchange from traditional lacquerware (khrueang rak) to sustainable innovation across three core dimensions: preservation of traditional identity and wisdom, creative development of techniques and contemporary styles, and global promotion of Thai craftsmanship.

As a public organization under the Ministry of Commerce, SACIT is committed to promoting Thai arts and crafts under its vision: “Preserving, Creating, and Promoting Thai Crafts in All Dimensions for a Sustainable Future.” SACIT has played a vital role in transforming the Thai craft landscape by developing commercially viable products and environmentally friendly production processes, while enhancing both domestic and international markets. The organization’s initiatives cover three key strategies: extending beloved traditional crafts, elevating the craft sector through strategic partnerships, and promoting craft development based on ESG principles.

In 2025, marks a milestone year for SACIT as it steps onto the international academic stage. The Symposium was inspired by the critical challenge facing Thai lacquerware crafts: the shortage of local raw materials, especially lacquer sap, essential for producing lacquerware (khrueang rak-khrueng khoen) and many other traditional crafts. Furthermore, the knowledge and expertise in lacquerware creation is rapidly declining. To address these concerns, SACIT launched this international academic conference as a platform for brainstorming and collaboration among ASEAN and international experts, aiming to develop sustainable solutions for the future of the crafts sector.More than just an academic gathering, SACIT Symposium 2025 will serve as a space for learning, innovation, and international collaboration in both academic and creative dimensions.

“This symposium presents a significant opportunity to bring together a diverse range of partners, including craftspeople, artists, collectors, academics, and educational institutions, from both Thailand and abroad. It serves as a platform for exchanging knowledge on lacquerware craftsmanship across technical, artistic, and cultural dimensions. We have also invited artisan networks from ASEAN, Asia, and Europe to engage in meaningful dialogue about sustainability in the craft sector,” said Asst. Prof. Dr. Anucha Thirakanont, Chief Executive Officer of SACIT.

The symposium will go beyond academic presentations by featuring:

· Creative works by emerging artisans
· Special exhibits of rare private collections, including international lacquerware

· Special demonstrations and exhibitions

Highlights of the event include:

· Keynote speech by Dr. Feng Jing from UNESCO, who will discuss crafts as a cultural foundation of ASEAN.

· Awards Ceremony honoring 30 outstanding Thai artisans in three categories:
  Master Craftsman of the Land, Master Craft Instructor, and Craft Heritage Successor.

· Expert panels featuring speakers from 9 countries in ASEAN, Asia, and Europe:
  4 participating partner organizations from Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Austria,
  and craftspeople and artists from Japan, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Lao PDR.

· Special talks by 4 renowned Thai creators and design leaders, including:

o Wichada Sitakalin (Jim Thompson)

o Rath Plien-suk (Sampas Gallery)

o Teerachai Supamethagulwat (Qualy Design)

o Orch Boonlong (Greater Chiang Mai)

One key international session will feature a panel titled: “Craft Ecologies: Materials, Communities, and Wisdom,” focusing on the use of lacquer sap, materials, and community knowledge for sustaining lacquerware in the modern age. International speakers include:

· Prof. Sakurako Matsushima, Japanese lacquerware expert

· Mr. Suo Chao, Chinese lacquerware scholar

· Mr. U Maung Maung, President of the Myanmar Lacquerware Association

· Mrs. Nguyen Thi Tu Quyen, Vietnamese artist and lacquer specialist

Additionally, the symposium will include a Thai panel discussion titled: “From Forest to Form: Lacquer Sap and the Thai Craft Ecology” with 6 Thai experts specializing in lacquerwork from sourcing to creative use, including:

· Sanun Ratana, National Artist in Fine Arts

· Assoc. Prof. Pitsamai Awakulpanich, Thai Art Design Program, Chiang Mai University

· Thawatchai Thamtong, Faculty of Management Science, Lampang Rajabhat University

· And other experts in Northern Thai lacquer traditions

The special exhibition “The Lacquer Legacy”, curated by Asst. Prof. Dr. Anucha Thirakanont, will tell the story of lacquer sap in Thai craftsmanship, featuring demonstrations and artworks by over 12 artisans from Thailand, Japan, China, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos, and 7 additional Thai lacquerware masters. Attendees will have a rare opportunity to experience this rich tradition up close.

SACIT Symposium 2025 is a pivotal step in establishing SACIT as a global leader in Thai crafts, strengthening international networks, and driving sustainable development in the crafts sector. The event aligns with SACIT’s goal of being internationally recognized in arts and crafts by 2030, while establishing Thailand as a central hub for ASEAN craft knowledge.

“This symposium is a new milestone for us to show the world that Thai crafts are still alive, evolving, and ready to collaborate for a sustainable future, culturally, economically, and innovatively. Thai craftsmanship is not just something of the past, but a creative force that can proudly shape the future if nurtured with genuine understanding and regional cooperation,” concluded Asst. Prof. Dr. Anucha Thirakanont.

For updates, visit www.sacit.or.th
Registration and event details are available on Facebook: SACITOFFICIAL or at https://symposium.sacit.or.th