ICONSIAM to Preserve Thailand’s Arts and Cultures

Bangkok (Thailand) – June 30, 2016 (travelindex.com) – The Fine Arts Department — Ministry of Culture and ICONSIAM Co., Ltd., developer of ICONSIAM, today, signed a MOU to officially mark their collaboration to preserve Thailand’s arts and cultures. The project aims to showcase the nation’s cultural heritage such as antiques and artifacts. The items will be displayed at ICONSIAM Heritage Museum, Thailand’s first world class museum. The museum is set to become a space where different cultures interact as well as a major tourist attraction.

ICONSIAM Heritage Museum, the country’s first world class museum will cover over 8,000 sq.m. of ICONSIAM. It will become the hub of Thailand’s prestigious historical and cultural heritage where art and culture will be in the spotlight. Local as well as foreign visitors will be able to witness the pride of Thailand and the elements that signify our national identity.

The Fine Arts Department — Ministry of Culture and ICONSIAM are working together, to contribute ideas and exchange information with one another in order to develop a standardised practice in museum administration. The Fine Arts Department will be in charge of analysing, sourcing and preserving antiques and artifacts to be displayed in the National Heritage Gallery, one of the museum’s three exhibition spaces.

Mr. Vira Rojpojchanarat, Minister of Culture Ministry remarked, “The agreement signed here between The Fine Arts Department — Ministry of Culture and ICONSIAM Co., Ltd., as well as the collaboration soon to commence is an auspicious occasion for Thailand’s cultural and artistic heritage. Today the private sector will officially play an important role in helping the government support, promote and showcase Thai culture. This answers directly to the government’s Public-Private Collaboration policy especially in the aspect of cultural promotion. The museum will communicate with Thai values to both locals and tourists, driving forward our admirable culture and national identity. The project will also push our identity and the creative cultural industry to an international level.”

Mr. Anan Shooshod, Director General of Fine Arts Department said, “This collaboration is the beginning of a united partnership between the private and public sectors. Both parties are working together to promote our prestigious arts and culture through the showcase of valuable artifacts. The exhibition will reflect our unique way of life from past to present in aspects such as our religions and our long reigning monarchy. The museum will certainly lead to new collaborations to improve the field of curatorial and museum management in Thailand. A board of committee will be set up to oversee the management while ICONSIAM also expressed its wish to donate part of its earning from the admission fee to
the Archeology Foundation for future restorations of historical sites, artifacts and the National Museum.”

Mrs. Chadatip Chutrakul, Director of ICONSIAM Co., Ltd., said, “It is the mission and ambition of ICONSIAM to create a unique project that represents the admirable identity of Thailand from every aspect. Our excellent indigenous wisdoms, intricate handicraft skills, architectural brilliance, our history, traditions, cultures etc., will be represented here.

The agreement signed today between ICONSIAM and The Fine Arts Department — Ministry of Culture is an example of how the government and private sector can work together to support the government’s Public-Private Collaboration policy. This project aims to become a driving force that benefits the country from the economic, job creation and income creation aspects. The collaboration will reaffirm Bangkok and Thailand’s position as the number one destination for cultural tourism. We believe that the alliance will bring in tourists from around the world and will definitely encourage them to come back to Bangkok over and over again. Our exhibition of national prestigious objects will surely and sustainably drive our tourism industry forward.”

“The decision to invest in this project with more than Bht 500 million at ICONSIAM, comes as a move that signify our intention to elevate the manner and degree of collaboration between the public and private sectors. It is the first time that private company proposes a collaboration and becomes a driving force that showcase the country’s valuable historical and cultural heritage to the world and Thai people in a tangible manner. This investment, although great in number is not a move that seek profit in return. We hope that this museum initiative will inspire other organizations to see the value and importance of museum which is a significant symbol of the country’s economic and social advancement.”

Part of the museum’s earning from the National Heritage Gallery admission fee will be donated to the Archeology Foundation for future restorations of historical sites, artifacts and the National Museum.

ICONSIAM sincerely hopes that ICONSIAM Heritage Museum will become the pride of the nation as well as the model for education in museum management that fits with international standard. The museum plans to set up an institute for museum management promotion and human resource development. The institute will help establish a correct understanding of curatorial occupation as well as artifact restoration.

In its initial stage, ICONSIAM Heritage Museum is designed to host 3 exhibition spaces:

1. National Heritage Gallery – Working in collaboration with The Fine Arts Department — Ministry of Culture, this gallery will exhibit artifacts that showcase Thailand’s cultural heritage.

2. Temporary Exhibition Gallery – This space will feature exhibitions from master artists and world class museums from all over the world. Here visitors can learn about prestigious artifacts from around the world.

3. River Gallery – The Gallery aims to present contemporary works from renowned local and international artists. It will also host art related activities.

ICONSIAM Heritage Museum will be equipped with standardised infrastructure and operation, up to par with world class museums. ICONSIAM is working with Lord Cultural Resources, a global professional practice dedicated to creating cultural capital worldwide which has worked on museums such as France’s The Louvre and Spain’s Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao. They also have experiences setting up the operation of Britain’s Tate Modern, The US’s Library of Congress’s security and filing systems as well as setting up exhibition models for Thailand Creative and Design Centre.

Our expert task force will be responsible for the museum’s space utilisation models, security system for valuable exhibits and quality guidelines for material used in the museum’s design and construction. They will also be responsible for other important aspects of the museum’s operation such as air-quality control, moisture control and gallery operation for display area with valuable objects.

ICONSIAM Heritage Museum is scheduled to open in 2018.

Contact information:
Natthanan Ussaneemas (Puk)
Department Manager Public Relations
Supremo Company Limited, A Member of Siam Piwat Group
Marketing of Siam Piwat Group
4th Floor Siam Paragon
991 Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan
Bangkok 10330, Thailand
http://www.siampiwat.com

T: +66 2 610 8202
M: +66 86 393 8700
natthanan.u@supremo.co.th