City Hall bows to pressure on BACC takeover
BMA puts plan on backburner until 2021
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) yesterday agreed to put on hold its plan to take over management of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) in Pathumwan district.
Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang yesterday said the BACC Foundation would continue to operate the centre until 2021 in compliance with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the centre’s management.
The management of the BACC would be considered again after the next three years.
“I told the Culture, Sports and Tourism Department during a meeting to put the plan on hold for now. We will discuss this issue later after 2021. I also shared the decision on my Facebook page yesterday,” he said.
According to Pol Gen Aswin’s Facebook page, he wrote: “If people disagree [with the plan], City Hall will not get involved with the development of the area [the BACC].”
He also denied saying that the BACC suffered 80 million baht in annual losses, adding he had no idea where the media got this false information.
“Show me evidence proving that I said that because the media always record my interviews. When did I say that? It has nothing to do with City Hall whether the BACC makes profits or suffers losses. It’s all about management of the foundation,” he said.
Pol Gen Aswin’s comments came after City Hall’s scheme to take over management of the BACC drew heavy criticism from the public and veteran artists who fear that the centre would be turned into another commercial complex following the governor’s alleged remark that the foundation ran the BACC at a loss.
Pol Gen Aswin also said the idea to take over management of the BACC was not influenced by its previous use as a venue for political events as he was not a politician.
He insisted its value as a site of public interest was a precondition for developing the area.
The governor said his previous inspection of the BACC found several areas could be further developed for the public with the procurement of more chairs and tables for visitors.
He then discussed the issue with the department which later informed him that the management was supervised by the foundation.
Also yesterday, art and culture advocacy networks lodged a petition with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, calling a halt to City Hall’s heavily criticised plan at Government House.
Veteran artist Chumpon Apisuk said the plan breached a declaration signed between former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin and the networks on Aug 19, 2005, the year the BACC officially opened to the public.
According to the declaration, the BACC foundation is authorised to handle the management of the centre for 10 years.
Each year, the BACC hosts more than 100 art events attended by more than 1.7 million visitors.
Besides the 40 million baht in annual budget granted by City Hall, the centre was able to raise funds to sponsor its activities and other additional expenses.
Of the budget, 10 million baht was spent on hosting art activities and 30 million baht allotted for costs, Mr Chumpon said.