Plenary Session VI - Bringing the Arts and Culture into Education
How the Theatre Can Connect What We Know to What We Have Yet to Know
Phatravadi Mejudhon, Chairman and Artistic Director, Patravadi Theatre, Thailand
Phatravadi Mejudhon, artistic director of Bangkok’s Patravadi Theatre, will share her personal experience and techniques in using the theatre as a means of personality development, and how arts can help to build the community in the long term.
Having been a prominent teacher and mentor in theatre and acting for more than 35 years, Phatravadi’s students – among them were problem teenagers and young people from hill tribes and suburban areas – have now grown into established artists, dedicated teachers, successful business people, good parents and, most important of all, respectable human beings.
She discovered that performing arts education is useful in building a positive personality. Through the practice of performing arts, students learn to communicate, to express themselves, to think and, most important of all, to be thoughtful of others.
Phatravadi will then describe how she facilitates some of her long-time students to become art masters and dedicated teachers, the importance of networking in art education among schools and the making of unique arts centres.
Suansilp Bandin and Wat Lumheri Arts Centres are centres created with the community in mind. At these arts centres, the younger generation can spend spare time creatively. Art is taught not only to enrich lives, but also to boost community spirit, revive old market place, facilitate community management and improve the economy.