## Breadcrumb 1. [Home](/index%2Ephp/) 2. [News and Stories](/index%2Ephp/news) 3. [Preservation And Perseverance: Cultural Heritage And Contemporary Practice In Thailand](/index%2Ephp/markdownify/node/2668) August 20, 2024 # Preservation And Perseverance: Cultural Heritage And Contemporary Practice In Thailand ![Group photo of people who participated in the "Preservation And Perseverance: Cultural Heritage And Contemporary Practice In Thailand"](/sites/default/files/styles/1_5_1_large/public/2025-02/540f660c-5e8b-40c5-955b-567f9b52ae9f_Jennie%20Suddick.jpg.webp?itok=vD_G4z3N) Under the guidance of **Jennie Suddick**, Adjunct Professor and Manager, International Programs & Collaboration, a transformative collaboration with the **International Sustainable Development Studies Institute (ISDSI)** in Chiang Mai, Thailand, has been enriching the dialogue between art and ecology. From May 5th to 25th, 2024, sixteen art and ecology students embarked on an immersive interdisciplinary journey, delving into the preservation and adaptation of traditional techniques within contemporary contexts. ![Students experimenting with natural pigments](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Photo%202024-05-22%2C%209%2040%2009%E2%80%AFAM_Jennie%20Suddick.jpg) **Learning Through Community Engagement** The program, rooted in community-based education and decolonial methodologies, was designed to promote social engagement and cultural appreciation. Students actively participated in workshops, collaborated with local leaders, and explored Chiang Mai’s diverse cultural heritage, from ancient temples and palaces to rural villages and indigenous communities. These engagements not only deepened their appreciation for cultural transmission but also allowed them to reflect on the integration of these traditions into their own artistic practices. **Overcoming Challenges and Building Connections** Throughout the program, students gained valuable insights into preserving and adapting traditional arts, including wood, metal, textile, and mural techniques. Despite facing challenges related to cultural acclimatization and environmental adaptation, the focus on reflection and dialogue facilitated meaningful connections between their experiences and personal artistic practices. The relationships forged with local communities had a profound impact, reinforcing the collaboration’s success and leaving a lasting legacy for both the students and the partnering institutions. **Looking Ahead** This collaboration marks the beginning of an exciting journey. Course leaders plan to showcase their work at international education conferences and are eager to foster future partnerships between OCAD U and ISDSI, further enriching the intersection of art, culture, and sustainability. ![image of people looking at an art work](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Photo%202024-07-25%2C%2012%2041%2036%E2%80%AFPM_Jennie%20Suddick_1.jpg) ![people working](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Photo%202024-05-22%2C%2010%2004%2046%E2%80%AFAM_Jennie%20Suddick_0.jpg) ## Other Recent News [### 2026-27 Call for Funding Proposals for Student Groups that Support Creative Entrepreneurship on Campus The RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) invites OCAD University student groups with a mandate to support entrepreneurship on campus to apply for funding for student-led initiatives that strengthen and expand the creative entrepreneurship ecosystem at OCAD U. This funding is intended to help student groups create opportunities for entrepreneurship skills development, community building, and revenue-generating activities for students and recent alumni, while reducing barriers to participation for equity-seeking individuals. November 6, 2026 ](/news/2026-27-call-funding-proposals-student-groups-support-creative-entrepreneurship-campus) [### 2027 Critical Distance Centre for Curators Projections Program Call for Artists OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) have partnered to co-create CDCC Projections Program Career Launcher. Four (4) to five (5) selected emerging artists will receive $690 to exhibit work in a single channel, projection-based screening program that will be displayed at the CDCC in March 2027. October 30, 2026 ](/news/2027-critical-distance-centre-curators-projections-program-call-artists) [### Call for Vendors: BAM! Holiday Art Market 2026 OCAD University's RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) is excited to partner again with Wychwood Barns to offer a curated group of OCAD U students and recent alumni the opportunity to share a vendor table at the BAM! Holiday Art Market. October 26, 2026 ](/news/call-vendors-bam-holiday-art-market-2026) Related Stories ## Related Stories [### Creative Ecologies: Art, Sustainability & Community Resilience in Nassau, Bahamas In May 2026, the International Programs & Collaboration Office is offering a co-curricular opportunity in Nassau, Bahamas. This program is tailored to students working in all mediums and creative disciplines and is designed to strengthen their professional practice through hands-on learning. February 17, 2026 ](/news/creative-ecologies-art-sustainability-community-resilience-nassau-bahamas) [### OCAD University announces 2026 Ateneo Art Award Resident Jel Suarez Filipino artist Jel Suarez has been selected as OCAD University’s 2026 Ateneo Art Award Resident, part of OCAD U’s partnership with the Ateneo Art Gallery at Ateneo de Manila University. The residency supports emerging artists whose practices reflect creativity, critical engagement and innovation. Building on the 2024 residency of Doktor Karayom, who presented No One’s At Home (Walang Tao Sa Bahay) in Toronto, proceeds from a limited-edition shirt designed by Karayom will help support Suarez’s upcoming residency and strengthen cultural exchange between OCAD University and the Ateneo Art Gallery. October 15, 2025 ](/news/ocad-university-announces-2026-ateneo-art-award-resident-jel-suarez) [### OCAD U at FUZE Caribbean Art Fair 2025 OCAD University students, alumni and faculty will present In Common Ink at FUZE Caribbean Art Fair 2025, held October 22–26 at Baha Mar in Nassau, The Bahamas. The project features collaborative risograph prints exploring shared histories and identity, created with visiting Bahamian artist John Cox. Limited-edition prints will be for sale. October 7, 2025 ](/news/ocad-u-fuze-caribbean-art-fair-2025)