A question for the BKK residents.

What would be the best area to buy or rent an apartment in Bangkok to be closest to the art and culture scene?

Hm.. The art and culture scene.. where exactly is that?

There are some university related exhibitions now and again. And sometimes you come across some establishments which actively try to promote these and other small exhibitions. You can try the men's toilet in Saxophone pub at victory monument for a wealth of posters usually up to date, they also carry local artists exhibitions each month in the pub.

Other than that, Ive not had much luck coming across any. There must be small pockets of A&C but as far as I know, no epicenter. There are high so type art exhibitions held in shopping malls sometimes, or rented hotel areas. Also there is apparantly some sort of modern art gallery around Ekkamai but my friend who went there was disappointed with what he called the out of date approach.

The problem is, there are gems to be found, but they are so well hidden so hopefully someone else has more experience.

When the new Mahidol University Performing Arts Center is finished in 2009-2010, then you'll have your center (even though we are on the west side, lol)

The Mahidol University College of Music is an "arts center", for those of you who've never ventured out this far. The Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra plays in our auditorium several times a month. There is a rotating art gallery beneath the auditorium. There are 5 Italian sculptors currently carving to massive marble art pieces (ongoing for the next 5 months). There are concerts at the auditorium almost every evening that are very affordable. We have a new Southeast Asian Music Museum which will begin construction next year.

So - arts center? Salaya.

There are absolutely tonnes of A&C events. Every week the papers carry about 20 or 30 art exhibitions. There are film festivals every other month, plus House cinema (RCA) only shows arthouse movies. There's an enormous Dance festival opening in the next month or so. What's that underground stop? Thailand Cultutal Centre? try there.

It really depends on what you think is the "art and culture scene". If you mean you want to live near alot of working artistst then go out and meet the ones whose work you admire and find out where they live.

hi -

for western classical music (mostly) and related diversions google the bangkok music society...their website when last checked was due for an update but you can get on the mailing list and be pestered habitually...also, on Ratchadamnoen down the street from Wat Bowon and just at the san saeb river taxi stop there is a nice museum whose exact name escapes me. It is under royal patronage and is quite pleasant, have seen some great stuff there. BKK mag, the free one at coffee shops, has good listings too...enjoy~~

Check this website for upcoming art and cultural events in Bangkok. http://www.surfbangkok.com/whaton_useful/what_on.php

Best I can tell there really isn't any area or neighborhood that's a cluster of arts.

Here's a list of Art Galleries - maybe if you mapped them all out you might find a pattern or cluster: http://www.rama9art.org/artisan/galleries/index.html

Many thanks everyone. As I assumed, there isn't really an arts district as such and it seems that galleries and centres are scattered throughout the city. There seems to be a smattering of galleries around the Sukhumvit and Silom areas but not too much. I just thought I might be missing something.

The Mahidol University Performing Arts Center project sounds interesting and I will look out for that.

Many thanks for the links. I'll investigate.