PM steps in to solve BMA, BACC conflict
PRIME MINISTER Prayut Cha-o-cha yesterday assigned his deputy secretary Puttipong Punnakan to help reconcile the conflict between the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC).
BACC director Pawit Mahasarinand led more than 250 artists and art lovers, all clad in black, to protest and mourn the action taken against cash-strapped BACC by Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang.
City Hall cut about Bt80 million in annual support over the past two years, forcing the BACC to seek funding from the business sector and donations from the public. Money is so short now, that BACC is finding it difficult to pay its utility bills. The Water Supply Authority yesterday sent a notice warning that it will cut off the water supply if the Bt47,000 bill for two months is not paid up.
“Since BACC is short of funds, we plan to cut the operating hours. Now the centre will open at 11am and close at 8pm – two hours shorter than normal. We have to cut some activities as well,” Pawit said at the press conference yesterday.
He added that shorter hours will have an adverse impact on artists exhibiting at the upcoming Bangkok Art Biennale and Theatre Festivals, as well as shop owners and visitors.
“We have asked City Hall to continue supporting the art centre, but we also plan to call on the general public to help through ‘crowd funding’ for the long term,” Pawit added.
“Bangkok will be shamed if the art centre does not function properly during the Bangkok Art Biennale, when foreign artists and audience are expected to visit the BACC. We need to solve this problem immediately,” Assoc Professor Alice Tienprasert said.
Meanwhile, the Artists Network, led by singer Nga Caravan and artist Chumpol Apisuk, presented an open letter addressed to the PM to Puttipong. The letter calls on General Prayut to free the art centre from having to rely on City Hall. “The prime minister is concerned about the conflict and he has sent me to hear the voices of the BACC and artists,” Puttipong said, adding that he will hand the letter to the PM today.
Earlier this week, Bangkok Governor Aswin named a six-member team of advisers to choose a new board for BACC. The advisers met for the first time on Tuesday to study the regulations on selecting the new BACC board of directors.