It was a week of creative development and community collaboration as we welcomed Dinos Aristidou, the Artistic and Executive Director of ISTA. Engagements across our community included work with Middle-school and Senior School Theatre students developing skills in theatre performance and creation and a three-generation workshop exploring ‘creative-thinking’ with PREM families and students. 

This engagement spilled out into the wider Chiang Mai community, as we hosted and piloted a ‘global-first’ in the PREM library, the training of a group of Thai National artists. Described as a ‘historical moment’ by ISTA, this pilot training will now be rolled out internationally in five other countries.

As well as the work that was carried out over the week, we also looked further into the future at ways in which to grow our existing partnership. Dinos and our own Creative Director Alex Soulsby looked at how our Artist Residency Thailand programme, along with Traidhos Three Generation Community for Learning, could explore the creation of a ‘Global Centre for Creative Development’ on our campus. Along with organisations such as the UK’s Eden Project and New York’s 911 memorial, we would aspire to be home to one of six global centers, working together to establish the community and the ARThailand programme as a progressive home for exploring the role of the arts and creative thinking in education.

The proposed project collaboration would, among other things, see us hosting conferences, training, professional development for educators and artists, as well as providing associated accreditation and kitemarks for participating individuals and organisations. A collaboration that ensures opportunities for PREM students, as well as international educators, creative practitioners and professionals interested in ‘education for creativity’ and the role and importance of the ‘arts’ in the lives of children and young people.

This residency builds both on our existing partnership with ISTA and our global reputation for ‘education for creativity’, providing bold and meaningful opportunities for both PREM Students, as well as the wider arts and cultural sector in Thailand.

Alex Soulsby

Creative Director