Arts & conflict

This afternoon I attended a debate, initiated by the Bangkok Art & Culture Centre, about how arts & culture might help in the process of national reconciliation. It was difficult to know where to start. The problems are principally political and I'm not sure how useful an exhibition, concert or literary competition, for example, might be in the grand scheme of things. But perhaps culture means something broader, like creating space for completely open dialogue in neutral venues with no hidden agendas. Also, one of the big problems is that Bangkok dominates all cultural life in Thailand. Supporting more regional festivals, modernizing local museums and galleries (paid for by the lottery) and identifying, funding and promoting certain cities as creative centres might be a start. Ultimately, the Thai problem seems to be a question of the haves and have nots: the elite in Bangkok have, but the vast majority in the north, the south, Isaan and other provinces have not. And that includes access to 'culture', a celebrated identity and opportunities to earn a living through creativity.