Aswin backs down on Bangkok Art and Culture Centre grab

[webfact]

Aswin backs down on Bangkok Art and Culture Centre grab

By Phatarawadee Phataranawik 
The Nation 

 

 

AFTER CRITICISM went viral online over the weekend against Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang’s plan to take over the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, the governor yesterday finally posted on his Facebook account that he would step back.

 

“If many people do not agree with the BMA’s plan take over BACC, we will leave it,” Bangkok Governor Aswin posted.

 

“This valuable art and culture centre will be the pride of our city,” he added. His new approach appears to be to transfer management of the centre to the city in 2021.

 

Aswin’s first plan drew strong reactions on social media over the weekend, with many artists voicing their opposition via Facebook.

 

Meanwhile Kallaya Kassakul, the artist network coordinator, on Saturday posted a call on www.Change.org for supporters to join a campaign under the hashtag #freebacc.

 

As of Monday at 5pm, more than 13,000 supporters had agreed to fight to free the art centre from City Hall and allow the Art and Culture Centre Foundation to continue running it.

 

Today the Artists Network for Free BACC will head to Government House to propose in a letter to PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha that he dismiss Asawin over his initial plan to turn the arts centre into a learning centre staffed by BMA bureaucrats.

 

The letter contains three requests. First, that the BACC Foundation continue running the art centre. Second, funding the art centre be made BMA policy. Finally, he dismissal of Governor Aswin. The group will be led by Vasan Sithiket, Chumpol Apisuk and Manit Stowanichoom.

 

Meanwhile, the BMA Council, chaired by Asawin, is scheduled to hold a meeting today to find the solution to the dispute. 

 

The meeting will discuss two issues. First, whether to allow the non-profit BACC Foundation to run the art centre until the current contract is runs out in 2021. Second, whether to transfer its management to the BMA’s Culture, Sport and Tourism Department after 2021.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30345386

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-15

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

his initial plan to turn the arts centre into a learning centre staffed by BMA bureaucrats.

that sounds productive; bloated thai bureaucracy , stocked by useless people in unnecessary 'jobs' of which we pay their salaries

[smedly]

well his Arts degree is wasted

 

what does this man know about Art and Culture, in fact what qualifications does he actually have

 

here we are again with a square peg in a very round hole, someone with no education trying to fit in a job that …….. well they are simply not capable of doing, exactly what Thailands problem is and has been for decades 

[klauskunkel]

he is interested in in this lovely opportunity:

"the foundation raised another Bt37 million from corporate sponsorship, management of venues and other income"

[webfact]

Famed Artists Say No To City Hall Takeover Of BACC

By Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

 

Artists including Manit Sriwanichpoom, in white, and Vasan Sitthiket, in pink, submit a complaint opposing City Hall’s takeover of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre on Monday morning at the Government House. Photo: Wannaphon Chimbanchong / Courtesy

 

BANGKOK — About two dozen artists and enthusiasts of a downtown public cultural venue submitted a formal complaint to the junta leader Tuesday demanding the provincial governor abandon plans to take it over.

 

Twenty-five artists and supporters of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre went to the citizen complaint center at about 9:30am to ask Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha to get his appointee, Gov. Aswin Kwanmuang, to drop his proposal to turn the facility into a coworking space.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/bangkok/2018/05/15/famed-artists-say-no-to-city-hall-takeover-of-bacc/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-05-15