About Organizers and Grantor
About Main Organizer
The Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University
Located at the Wang Tha Phra in Bangkok, the Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts was Silpakorn’s inaugural faculty when the University was formally established in 1943. At that time, it offered only two programs of study: painting and sculpture. Since then, its curriculum has been broadened to cover several other areas of specialization that are designed to enrich student’s knowledge of visual arts and artistic creativity, for example, painting, sculpture, graphic arts, Thai art, art theory, and mixed media in bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs.
The faculty recognizes significant importance of research and public oriented activities with a view to strengthen the relationship between the University and society. At the same time, its faculty members have been actively involved in international exchanges and cooperation. Activities such as artist-in-residencies and exchanges of art exhibitions are assuming increasing saliency. The faculty’s research interests are also expanding from the more conventional areas such as painting and sculpture to the more pioneering work in Thai art and art theory, including the faculty members have been invited and functioned as judging members and jury committee in many national and international art competitions for both public and private organizations as well as providing art educational services for the public community.
For more information: http://www.finearts.su.ac.th/
About Co-organizer
The Royal Photographic Society of Thailand was first set up in the year 1959 by a group of photography enthusiasts. Initially called The Photographic Society of Thailand, it was granted royal patronage two years later by King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great Rama IX in 1961 and became established as “The Photographic Society of Thailand under Royal Patronage” while using the initials PST for abbreviation. King Rama IX had always been a keen patron, and his graciousness shall forever remain esteemed by the Society. In 2008, the Society was also given consent to include the word Royal in its name and hence became registered and officially known as “The Royal Photographic Society of Thailand” (RPST) from then on.
The Society’s symbol was originally designed by Ajarn Phaitoon Osiri with an image of Rahu swallowing the moon (a Hindu mythological figure associated with lunar and solar eclipses) within a circle representing the lens in the middle of an eye, framed by a rectangle. Later, following the king’s permission, the Great Crown of Victory was added above the original design in 1972.
In the beginning, members of the Society's executive board were elected annually until in 1975 when the rules were changed for elected board members to have a term of two years. Then in 1998 the rules were revised again and the most significant change was for society members to elect a President who would be responsible for selecting qualified individuals to work and form part of the executive board. Up until the present day, there have been altogether 17 presidents of The Royal Photographic Society of Thailand with first one being Rat Pestanyee.
Over the past 6 decades, the Society has always been committed to endlessly developing the photographic profession by providing knowledge and experience for members and non-members on a regular basis through holding photographic exhibitions and educational activities such as organizing special lectures and training workshops, as well as arranging Achievement Tests for members to obtain Distinctions at the Associate (A.RPST) and Fellowship (F.RPST) levels that are recognized both locally and internationally.
The Society has also provided opportunities for members to take part in documenting various royal ceremonies and important national and historical events as well as opportunities for both members and the general public to demonstrate their potential, by organizing photographic competitions such as the nationwide King’s Cup competition and other royal-members award competitions in addition to national and international competitions that have received increasingly numerous entries with great interest. We have also been trusted by agencies, both public and private, to organize photographic activities and events as well as to assist in setting up certain standards, rules and regulations related to photography that have been widely adopted on many occasions.
For more information: www.rpst.or.th
About Grantor
The Japan Foundation Asia Center
The Japan Foundation is Japan's principal institution dedicated to carrying out comprehensive international cultural exchange programs throughout the world. Asia Center, established within the Japan Foundation in April 2014, is a specialized unit to conduct and support collaborative initiatives with its Asian—primarily ASEAN—counterparts, aiming to develop the sense of kinship and coexistence as neighboring inhabitants of Asia and nurture human resources to become a bridge between Asian countries.
The Japan Foundation Asia Center promotes exchange programs among the people of Asia in a wide range of fields such as art, films, performing arts, sports, grassroots exchange, and intellectual exchange. We create a new Asian culture together through interaction, collaboration, and respect for diversity and people's identity.
For more information: https://jfac.jp/en/