Mr. Prasop Riang-ngern, representative of the Minister of Culture, stated that the ministry is tasked with promoting art, religion, and culture, as well as advancing contemporary art development. The Office of Contemporary Art and Culture (OCAC) serves as the main agency to promote, support, publicize creative activities, and develop contemporary art. In carrying out these duties, OCAC integrates proactive cooperation among the OCAC, the Contemporary Art Promotion Fund, contemporary art networks, and various sectors.
This effort aims to maximize support for artists and contemporary art entrepreneurs to transform cultural capital into tangible economic value. It focuses on preserving, creating, and bringing Thai culture into the future sustainably with the concept of 'Thai Thai,' which emphasizes creatively developing roots of wisdom, culture, art, or local identity. This approach helps generate careers and income for artists, people, and communities, driving Thai culture as a foundation to strengthen national economic growth and improve the quality of life for Thai people.
Khun Ying Patama Leesawattrakul, Chairperson of the Contemporary Art Promotion Fund's Executive Committee at OCAC, said the fund was established in 2008 under the Contemporary Art Promotion Act of that year. Over the past 18 years, the fund has supported artists and cultural organizations across all art disciplines. From 2018 to 2026, it has promoted a total of 367 projects, allocating over 116 million baht in funding.
In 2026, 44 projects received support, covering nine fields: visual arts, literature, music, performing arts, film, architecture, decorative arts, calligraphy, and fashion design. Each project supported by the fund stands out with its unique identity. The Ministry of Culture through OCAC, the fund, supporters, artist networks, contemporary art networks, and all stakeholders take pride in contributing to promoting artists and contemporary art networks to develop knowledge, enhance creativity, and showcase Thai contemporary art nationally and internationally.
Khun Ying Patama added that the Contemporary Art Promotion Fund is committed to continuously advancing the promotion and dissemination of knowledge across all nine contemporary art disciplines. This has been achieved through strong partnerships with key allies, including 1. Iconsiam, 2. United Overseas Bank (UOB) Public Company Limited, 3. Chat Lab Group, and 4. Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage.
At the same time, the fund has expanded cooperation to educational institutions and the international level through collaboration between the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, the Contemporary Art Promotion Fund, and contemporary art networks such as the Kalyanivattana Music Institute and the Cheongju Craft Biennale. The Cheongju Craft Biennale Organizing Committee’s MOU signing will enhance integration to promote creation, development, and dissemination of contemporary art more strongly toward international standards.
For travel enthusiasts, TrueMoney, a leading electronic payment and digital financial services provider in Southeast Asia, is expanding its overseas payment ecosystem into a single app platform that gathers travel-related features. It recently launched a travel services category emphasizing easy booking, convenient payment, reliable internet, and comprehensive insurance. The company hosted the 'One App, Easy Travel' event, featuring actor and athlete S-Supha Sangaowwong, who enjoys travel, highlighting its commitment to developing a platform that seamlessly connects travel and payments domestically and abroad in one app.
Award recognition Kasikorn Asset Management Company (KAsset) reaffirmed its leadership in managing Thailand’s bond funds by winning the Most Prominent Fund House in Corporate Bond Market award for the ninth consecutive year at the 2025 ThaiBMA Best Bond Awards, organized by the Thai Bond Market Association. This achievement further proves investors’ trust in KAsset’s deep expertise, professionalism, and capability in bond portfolio management.
Their expertise spans economic and interest rate analysis, selecting quality bonds, managing credit and liquidity risks, and proactively adjusting investment strategies to align with market conditions under comprehensive risk management. The goal is to generate appropriate and sustainable long-term returns. Mr. Thanandon Cholitkul, CFA, Chief Investment Officer, led KAsset’s bond fund managers in receiving the award at the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok recently.