The ICTM Study Group on the Performing Arts of Southeast Asia (PASEA) began organizational meetings in 2008 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and was formally established under the rules of the International Council for Traditional Music in 2009.  From discussions that began in 2007-2008 among scholars on music and dance of Southeast Asia, it was clear that better communication and interaction was needed among all scholars, and that emerging scholars in the field needed greater encouragement and opportunity.

This Study Group is open to all ICTM members who are involved in research and documentation on the performing arts (including music, dance and theatre) of Southeast East Asia. Sub-study groups among active members are forming. A number of current members have initiated a sub-study group on Performing Arts of the Muslim Communities in Southeast Asia, and a second sub-study group focusing on the Study of Performance in Royal Contexts has been proposed.

The ICTM Study Group-PASEA holds a symposium every two years at a different location in Southeast Asia. The 1^st Symposium, in 2010, was held and hosted by the Republic Polytechnic in Singapore, and the 2012 Symposium will be held at the National Commission for Culture and Arts in the Intramuros, Manila, The Philippines. The detailed reports of the symposia programs, the participants/presenters and the Study Group business meetings held during these symposia are available on this Study Group’s Google Site at sites.google.com/site/PASEAStudyGroup.

The ICTM Study Group-PASEA currently holds a membership email list of some 120 members, with about 80 active members from around the world.  Membership may be obtained by writing to the Study Group Chairperson.

Mission Statement

The Southeast Asian Performing Arts Study Group is dedicated to the study and research of music, dance and theater as found throughout Southeast Asia, and includes Southeast Asian performing arts elsewhere in the world.  The Study Group intends to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, new approaches and current research among established as well as young ICTM scholars around the world.  The Study Group will also strive to increase communication and interaction among scholars working in Southeast Asian performing arts, and to promote future research initiatives in areas of Southeast Asia where there has been little or no research.

Study Group Board

This Study Group is run by elected positions and other volunteer/appointed positions that comprise the Study Group Board.  The Bylaws for the operation of the Study Group and Guidelines for Symposia have been drawn up and discussed, and will be tabled for adoption at the next business meeting of this Study Group at its 2^nd Symposium in Manila in June, 2012.

The current elected positions of the Study Group Board are:

• Dr. Patricia Matusky, Chairperson (2008—). Independent Researcher and Adjunct Professor, Grand Valley State University (Michigan, USA), pmatusky@gmail.com.
• Dr. Made Mantle Hood, Secretary/Treasurer (2010—). University of Melbourne, Conservatorium of Music (Australia), made.hood@unimelb.edu.au

 (Vice-Chairperson will be selected at a future business meeting).

Appointed Study Group members serving on the Board

• Dr. Made Mantle Hood, board member in the capacity of current Symposium Program Chairperson.
• Dr. Mohd. Anis Md Nor (University of Malaya, Malaysia), Publications Chair. anisnor55@gmail.com
• Dr. David Harnish (University of San Diego, USA), Consulting Member. dharnish@sandiego.edu
• Dr. Felicidad Prudente (University of The Philippines, Philippines), current Symposium Local Arrangements Chairperson. feprudente@gmail.com

Publications

This Study Group has published the Proceedings of the 1^st Symposium, held at the Republic Polytechnic in Singapore, June 2010.  The Proceedings were edited by the Study Group’s Publications Committee, under the direction of Dr. Mohd. Anis Md. Nor, and published jointly by the Nusantara Performing Arts Research Center (NusPARC) and the Department of Southeast Asian Studies of the University of Malaya, both organisations located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  Copies are available for purchase at the NusPARC website (www.nusparc.com), at the Symposia held by the Study Group, and at the ICTM World Conferences.   

The Proceedings of the 2^nd Symposium will be in preparation for publication soon after the conclusion of the symposium in June 2012.

All Announcements, Business Meeting Minutes, Symposia Programs and Reports, and other official documents of this Study Group may be found on its Google Site.