Bangkok governor candidates have been painting a rosy picture of the capital under their stewardship, but what's glaringly missing from their campaign bullet points and speeches is the policy and vision of Bangkok as a city of arts and culture. Orderly footpaths and flood prevention are priorities, but are cultural content and creative nurturing as crucial given that Bangkok is now World Book Capital? We talk to four veterans in the cultural community, from museum operator to curator and bookseller, to hear what they would like the new governor to include in their cultural plan _ and yes, there must be one.
Community museums need security
The BMA now has 26 community museums in 25 districts. Anucha Kua-charoon, co-founder and volunteer of Trok Khao Mao Local Museum in Bangkok Noi district, shares what he would like the governor candidate to pay attention to.
'I haven't heard any of them talk about community museums. This is an important issue, because Bangkok is outstanding for its cultural tourism.
"I want the new governor to support local museums in terms of venue and volunteer staff. This field of work needs knowledgable and experienced persons while there is no career stability for them. The wage for volunteers at the city's local museums is only 240 baht per working day per head, or around 5,000 baht per month, which is very low given the current economic situation.
"The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has an idea to establish urban museums and libraries, but I don't want the BMA to desert community museums. Some of the local museums are at risk of being closed down by schools or temples that want their spaces back.
"In brief, I want the city to do at least four things for local museums. First, it should make sure the community museums have permanent locations [by not being shut down when schools or temples want the space back]. Second, it should ensure career stability for volunteer staff. Although volunteeer staff are not eligible to receive the minimum daily wage rate [300 baht a day] the city can seek to increase allowances for them.
"Third, it should improve the quality of community museums. At present, some exhibition signs and display materials are in a deteriorating condition. The displayed objects and systems have never been improved. And fourth, the BMA should encourage city schoolchildren to visit the local museums as part of the course. Policies should be adjusted to allow students of city schools to visit the local museums in their districts."
Culture must be on the master plan
Veteran curator Gridthiya Gaweewong of Jim Thompson Art Centre urges the new governor to look at the big picture.
'The new Bangkok governor should be able to look at the entire structure of the arts and culture development _ not just the detail. For instance, we need transparency in the BMA's budget on culture. Do we have any idea how much they spend on it each year? We also need to see a clear criteria on art support _ say, I'm in Pathumwan district, can I go to the disrict office and ask for support, or should I go to the BMA? The budget must be accessible and transparent. I expect the new governor to think a lot about this and know how to proceed further.
"Art and culture must be on the master Bangkok agenda, not something on the side. It must be seen as part of the urban regeneration plan. We're talking about 'soft power' and how the creative industry can generate income, so the BMA must be a facilitator in making this happen. City schools should include a trip to the museums _ Bangkok Art and Culture Centre or others _ as part of the course. It's how we develop creativity from the early age. The BACC should have the ability to attract a million visitors [to an exhibition]. Is it too much? Not at all, compared to how many people visit nearby shopping malls in the same area each weekend. And the exhibitions shown at BACC are free of charge.
"The BACC has so much potential. But there's concern that its existence will be politicised [since it was set up by a Democrat governor], and that's not fair. Whoever becomes the new governor, the BACC is for public benefit _ and not a product of any political party. Meantime, the BACC must improve the quality of the exhibitions, making it more related to the people and set itself up as a learning centre."
Honour the promise of World Book Capital
Worapan Lokitsataporn, president of the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand, talks about libraries, books and how reading can become part of Bangkok life.
'Our reading habit has become very weak. Mainly, I think it's because of the changing lifestyle that does not seem to favour the act of sitting down and reading. The BMA has over 400 schools, and that means a lot of children under their watch. The new governor should develop the link between in-school education and out-of-school learning, fostering curiosity and the thirst for knowledge.
"The BMA has over 40 libraries. That's too few, given that this is a city of 10 million. For a library to work, it has to be in your community _ it won't work if you have to take a bus through the traffic to borrow a book. A library doesn't have to be big, but it has to be convenient and stay up-to-date, like having new books all the time, and it should have activities that can compete with other lifestyle activities. And it has to open on Saturday and Sunday _ not just during "official hours" like other city-run agencies. Besides, the BMA should work with other public spaces to promote reading; for instance, people spend a lot of time waiting around in hospitals, so why not put a reading corner there? Or at train stations and even coffee shops.
"Bangkok has been chosen by Unesco as the World Book Capital because we proposed several plans that they liked. Now the new governor has to honour the promise we've made. Some of the initiatives include the set-up of the City Library [at the site of the existing BMA office near the Giant Swing], which will include a Biblio Museum as well as a research centre, but that plan has been delayed. The World Book Capital will officially kick off in April. So far, what we've seen is footwork, but when the real match begins, I hope the new governor will be as good as to push it through with passion, or we risk being embarrassed.
Contemporary music festival in Bangkok, why not?
Bandit Kaewanna: Music Programmer (Channel [V] Thailand), independent actor/performer with B-Floor Theatre and Democrazy Theatre, among many others.
'My dream governor would support all artistic endeavors wholeheartedly _ with profound understanding of the creative industry. The current situation is all right, but it can be much improved with the right people on the job. The dream governor must be aware enough that his art and culture team should consist of people who are truly in the know _ not just some random individuals who don't have passion for the issues.
''I would like to see more performance arts activities at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. There are some now, but not enough. Also, from what I understand, the place is run very bureaucratically, and sometimes that doesn't work well with people with artistic inclinations. I would like to see small theatre spaces scattered around Bangkok, providing easy access to the arts. With state fundings, children will be able to enjoy theatre arts at no cost from a very young age.
''I think cultural and art funding is also crucial to push our creative scenes forward. The BMA should assemble a team of knowledgeable scouts who are able to spot new talents who can use financial aide and proper mentorships.
''Lastly, I wish for a proper contemporary music festival in Bangkok. You need a lot of money to hold a music festival, and there's no way that any private promoters can foot the bill alone. They need help from the BMA and the government. When the state wants to engage in musical activities, they often veer towards traditional and classical, but I would like to see a contemporary music festival sponsored by the state for a change.''
