On May 16th, in Lecture Hall A1018 of CCAA, we were honored to host Ms. Sanja Krsmanović Tasić, President of the International Drama/Theatre and Education Association (IDEA), as the distinguished speaker for the 60th ASEAN Lecture Series. She delivered profound insights on art education with her presentation titled "The Necessity of Art Education: Reassessing Priorities for 21st Century Students."

At the outset of the lecture, Ms. Sanja painted a grand panorama of the current global landscape of arts education and cultural development. She emphasized that arts education is not merely about teaching students techniques in painting, music, or dance, but rather a vital pathway to nurturing their creativity, critical thinking, and emotional expression.

Ms. Sanja highlighted the World Alliance for Arts Education (WWAAE) as a crucial platform for promoting and advocating arts education worldwide, dedicated to providing opportunities for exchange and collaboration among global arts educators. Among its members, the International Drama/Theatre and Education Association (IDEA), as one of the founding organizations, plays a pivotal role. As President of IDEA, Ms. Sanja collaborated with three other co-chairs of the Executive Forum to develop the Framework for Arts and Culture, a landmark global document. Recently approved at the UNESCO World Conference in Abu Dhabi, this framework provides essential guidance for advancing arts, arts education, and culture on an international scale.

During the lecture, Ms. Sanja elaborated in detail on the importance of developing original educational methodologies and programs tailored to different age groups. She emphasized that whether artists, drama teachers, children, youth, or senior citizens, everyone should have access to age-appropriate and interest-aligned arts education.

Moreover, Ms. Sanja particularly emphasized the unique role of arts and drama education in cultivating 21st-century citizens. She pointed out that with technological advancement and accelerated globalization, we now face unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Arts and drama education represent crucial platforms for equipping new generations with essential future-ready skills.

Finally, Ms. Sanja encouraged every educator and scholar present to actively participate in promoting and developing arts education. She firmly believes that only through our collective efforts can we create a more diverse and opportunity-rich educational environment for 21st-century students.