New ministry, two performing centres and a contemporary art exhibition centre being planned, writes Anchalee Kongrut in Beijing
After a quiet four months in office, Culture Minister Anusorn Wongwan has finally found his groove _ in China. Mr Anusorn doesn't mind admitting he leads a low-key life at the ministry.
''Many politicians feel the need to continually announce their achievements and ambitions. Maybe they like to impress the media,'' said Mr Anusorn, the son of veteran politician Narong Wongwan.
During Mr Anusorn's tenure, the biggest news involving the ministry has been the ill-advised booking of Girly Berry _ a pop band famous for their seductive hot pants and tank tops _ to promote Thai culture during Songkran, and the restoration of ancient artifacts at Phanom Rung temple damaged by vandals in May.
Mr Anusorn does not feel he must prove himself.
''How can I talk about my job when the cultural ministry's responsibilities are so varied. We have to respond to every comment made by the public.
''Whenever someone is displeased with a movie star or musician, for example, the ministry must respond,'' Mr Anusorn told the media during his recent visit to Shanghai and Beijing.
He said even Rabiebrat Pongpanich, a former senator and a conservative critic of modern culture, sent a letter to Mr Anusorn's home address, complaining that there was too much sexual content in a recent Thai movie.
For now, the ministry's top priority is to complete the royal crematorium for Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana.
Some of Mr Anusorn's predecessors have had their own ideas what the Ministry of Culture should focus on. Uraiwan Thienthong and Khunying Khaisri Sri-aroon wanted the ministry to foster family values. Former deputy prime minister Surakiart Sathirathai, who supervised the ministry, wanted it to focus on the popular arts, such as films and music.
Mr Anusorn did not bring a clear-cut vision on culture to the role. In fact, in the past he has been involved more with business than cultural affairs. His family runs logging and tobacco harvesting businesses in the North, while his previous cabinet positions were deputy labour minister, deputy industry minister and deputy interior minister.
But Mr Anusorn managed to find his niche during his trip to China earlier this month.
He visited Shanghai Museum to see its collection of valuable ancient ceramics, considered by some to be the world's finest.
In Beijing, he visited the National Centre for the Performing Arts, known locally as ''The Egg''.
The trip inspired Mr Anusorn to come up with a goal for the Culture Ministry.
''I am interested in museums and libraries and I think the ministry should have a duty to develop them,'' he said.
The minister said he would hold a meeting to set the ministry's agenda.
He even asked China's National Centre for the Performing Arts for technical assistance on a design for a new centre.
A new ministry office, two performing centres and a contemporary art exhibition centre are to be built at the National Cultural Centre on Ratchadaphisek road.
He said the ministry would ask for know-how and capacity building help from China.
Mr Anusorn also signed the renewal of a memorandum of understanding on cultural exchange programmes from 2008-2010 with China's Culture Minister Cai Wu.Thailand has had a cultural exchange program with China since 1998.
The programme covers numerous activities, from performance art, exhibitions and music, to the management of museums, libraries and sites of archeological interest.
To strengthen ties, the Chinese embassy in Thailand will also build a Chinese Cultural Centre next to the National Cultural Centre.
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