In the midst of the virus crisis, the Creative Economy Agency (CEA) has joined hands with the private sector, creative entrepreneurs and educational institutes to bring the northeastern town of Khon Kaen back to life with the Isan Creative Festival 2021, which runs until Aug 15.
Held under the theme "Isan Crossing", the festival offers more than 200 interesting activities and performances that combine local wisdom, unique culture and innovation to showcase the capabilities of individuals and businesses in creative industries.
"Isan Creative Festival 2021 provides a platform for creative industries to showcase their design potential, skills, efforts to solve problems and develop urban towns in various dimensions. Among them are social, community, environmental and educational aspects," said Apisit Laistrooglai, executive director of CEA.
"The festival will inspire youth, locals, and members of the general public to recognise the importance of design, which can add value to the cultural capital of Isan or the Northeast and pave the way for a creative economy. The festival is providing such experiences via eight main activities namely Showcases & Exhibitions, Talks, Workshops, Events & Music Programs, Creative Tour, D-KAK Market, Promotions and Isan Open House."
The Creative and Commercial Srichan Zone and TCDC Khon Kaen have been turned into major entertainment venues. One of the highlights includes the Kungsadan Walkable Project, a collaboration between the CEA and Urban Room, which demonstrates ingenuity in creating safer and more beautiful footpaths.
Images from the Isan Creative Festival 2021. photo courtesy of Memory4us Photographer
The Common Household Utensils exhibition by the CEA x Issaraphap provides fresh perspectives and techniques for enhancing the value of everyday household utensils.
Focusing on improving the quality of school lunches, the Lunch and Learn Project sees the CEA team up with professional chefs to arrange a mobile exhibition to educate visitors on how to design nutritious lunches for primary students.
Also on view is the Weaving Factory exhibition by Foundisan x Curated x Medium Well with a collection of Isan-style woven fabric and basketwork that reflects the perspectives of female weavers' love and the way of local life in the region. At the same time, visitors can check out the programme of Isan Route tours to explore Isan culture in Khon Kaen, Sakon Nakhon and Maha Sarakham provinces.
Following disease control measures and travel restrictions, the festival offers online exhibition tours via Isan Creative Festival on Facebook so that people of all ages can participate from home and has also developed the Crowd Check online platform, which allows visitors to see congestion in each zone to avoid crowds.
Find out more details at isancreativefestival.com or Line@: IsanCreativeFestival.
Isan Creative Festival 2021 photo courtesy of Memory4us PhotographerTel. 0816622808
Isan Creative Festival 2021. photo courtesy of Creative Economy Agency (CEA)
Isan Creative Festival 2021. Photo: Nattakritha Charoonsirisate
