Mr. Prasop Riangngoen, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Representative of the Minister of Culture, presided over the press conference announcing the projects supported by the Contemporary Art Promotion Fund for the fiscal year 2025. The event was attended by KhunyingPatama Leeswadtrakul, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Contemporary Art Promotion Fund, Mrs. Kesorn Kumnerdpech Deputy Director-General, Acting Director-General, Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, along with executives from the Ministry of Culture, the Fund’s management committee, representatives from partnering organizations, recipients supported by the fund, artists, and media at the Auditorium of the Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Gallery.
Mr. Prasop Riangngoen, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Representative of the Minister of Culture, serves as the Chairperson of the Contemporary Art Promotion Committee, stated that culture and creativity play vital roles in the development of the economy and society. Thai contemporary art serves as a form of Soft Power that enhances Thailand’s status and role in the global community. The Ministry of Culture is therefore focused on driving policies that support creative power, or Soft Power, to elevate and develop the knowledge, skills, and creativity of Thai people, creating value and generating income for products and services based on social and cultural capital. Furthermore, it aims to empower individuals as key factors in driving the cultural economy and society by providing support and access to funding for artists, networks, and cultural entrepreneurs. This also includes efforts to preserve, restore, and further develop cultural arts, as well as promote local wisdom.
“The Contemporary Art Promotion Fund has actively integrated cooperation in developing contemporary art at all levels and has continuously promoted, supported, and disseminated creative cultural activities. Today, I would like to congratulate all the recipients of the funding and every organization involved. This is yet another opportunity for all of us to jointly promote the creation of Thai contemporary art, inspire artists, and provide opportunities for Thai artists across the country, including both emerging artists and local artists, especially at the community level, to develop themselves in the fields of culture and creativity. Moreover, art enthusiasts can further develop their works as Soft Power, which can lead to sustainable economic growth and position Thailand as one of the leading nations in Soft Power globally in the future,” stated the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture.
KhunyingPatama Leeswadtrakul, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Contemporary Art Promotion Fund, stated that the fund has supported the work of artists and contemporary cultural organizations, entering its eighth year. From 2018 to 2025, it has promoted a total of 275 projects with a combined budget of over 87 million baht. For the fiscal year 2025, the fund has promoted 113 projects in the first round, amounting to a total of 44,900,000 baht, covering eight categories: Visual Arts (33 projects), Performing Arts (30 projects), Music (20 projects), Literary Arts (11 projects), Architecture (4 projects), Graphic Arts (4 projects), Film (8 projects), and Costume Design (3 projects). All projects that have received support contribute to engagement with networks at local, community, national, and international levels, developing activities that build upon cultural capital to promote sustainable development in social, cultural, and creative economic dimensions. This proactive integration through the artistic ecosystem can clearly elevate social value and creative economy, aligning with the government’s Soft Power policy. Today marks a valuable opportunity for recipients of the Contemporary Art Promotion Fund and networks from all sectors to come together to exchange ideas, knowledge, and experiences in contemporary art, while jointly promoting and enhancing Thai contemporary art as a Soft Power that plays a recognized role both domestically and internationally.
“In addition to providing funding, the Contemporary Art Promotion Fund has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the promotion and development of contemporary art and culture with the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage. This brings the number of collaborating organizations to four. In the year 2025, the network partners working together with the Contemporary Art Promotion Fund will include the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, ICONSIAM Co., Ltd., Chat Lab Group, and UOB Bank Public Company Limited. These organizations organize the 15th UOB Painting of the Year exhibition at the Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Gallery, coinciding with the presentation of works by recipients of the Contemporary Art Promotion Fund for the year 2024, which takes place from December 27, 2024, to January 18, 2025. We invite all interested individuals to visit the exhibition and support the artists. This collaboration with network partners will strengthen integration among organizations within the artistic ecosystem, promoting contemporary art in a proactive manner. It will also enhance awareness of contemporary art works and activities on a broader scale, contributing to the enhancement of social value and increasing the economic value of creative work continuously and tangibly at the local, regional, national, and international levels,” stated Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Contemporary Art Promotion Fund.
Mrs. Kesorn Kumnerdpech Deputy Director-General, Acting Director-General, Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, stated that the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture is responsible for promoting, supporting, and disseminating activities related to the creative contemporary arts to enhance knowledge and their application in society. The Contemporary Art Promotion Fund serves as a funding source that continuously supports contemporary art projects across nine categories for applicants every year. In the year 2025, the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture will support the Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Gallery in organizing activities aimed at promoting and developing networks to support the creation of contemporary art. This includes showcasing the works of recipients funded by the Contemporary Art Promotion Fund for the year 2024 in an exhibition format, allowing interested individuals to visit from December 27, 2024, to January 18, 2025.
“We invite you to visit the works of recipients funded by the Contemporary Art Promotion Fund for the year 2024, which will be on display until January 18. The exhibition showcases concrete works that demonstrate knowledge, skills, and the enhancement of cultural capital to foster creative output through the fund’s support in four key areas: (1) research and development of knowledge in contemporary arts and culture to enhance the country’s economic competitiveness, (2) promotion and support for the creation of contemporary cultural works to build an artistic ecosystem and elevate the creative cultural industry, (3) collaboration networks to promote the contemporary cultural identity of each locality and (4) promotion and dissemination of Thai contemporary art both domestically and internationally. All of these efforts aim to support and strengthen network collaborations in creating valuable works, leading to sustainable economic and social exchange and enhancement,” emphasized the Deputy Director-General, Office of Contemporary Art and Culture.
