Mission
SEA-Junction aims to foster understanding and appreciation of Southeast Asia in all its socio-cultural dimensions --from arts and customs to the economy and development-- by enhancing public access to knowledge resources and by promoting exchanges among students, specialists and Southeast Asia lovers. Objectives
• Provide public access to books and other resources on Southeast Asia.
• Provide a venue for exchanges among people of the region and beyond.
• Organize series of events on Southeast Asia and ASEAN processes.
• Collaborate with other relevant Thai, regional and international organizations in promoting knowledge of Southeast Asia and ASEAN through exhibit, meetings, and events. Activities
As the name indicates, “SEA-Junction” is meant as an informal place of exchanges on Southeast East where people with interest in SEA arts, cultures and societies can meet, share information, consult available resources, and read related literature at their leisure. The setting is that of an open library where a collection of books on Southeast Asia are hosted on a wide range of socio-cultural themes for public consultation. Targeted efforts are made to attract students and act as a learning center on regional issues for young people. Moreover, SEA-Junction serves as a venue for speeches by/dialogues with visiting regional specialists (including artists and activists) as well as for small encounters on relevant topics. Making use of the meeting facilities of BACC, especially the smaller meeting rooms on the 4th and 5th floor, a program of events relevant to Southeast Asia which includes meetings, seminars, lectures and workshops, will be organized and promoted with outside audiences. Selected crafts and arts of Southeast Asia are displayed to give a glimpse of the cultural richness of the region. SEA-Junction provides computer space for access to electronic resources, with workstations for SEA experts traveling in Thailand. Finally, our website http://seajunction.org/ promotes SEA-Junction and its activities as well as serving as an electronic knowledge platform on Southeast Asia. Why SEA-Juction? Thailand, and more generally the region, does not have a specialized resource center on Southeast Asia outside of the academic setting. With the possible exception of the Siam Society, there are no venues for SEA students, specialists and lovers to meet informally and share information, nor there are accessible library venues for the general public. This gap is particularly serious at a time when interest for Southeast Asia is growing because of the launching of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015. For people in ASEAN countries, it is important to understand the impacts of regional processes and learn more about the culture of their neighbors. For others passing trough Bangkok, SEA-Junction offers an opportunity to understand Thailand in a broader regional context.
