When the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) announced in the middle of the year -- amid heavy public pressure -- that it would step back from its plan to take over the management of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), some may have breathed a sigh of relief. It's generally thought that the issue has been settled. It's not. In fact, the issue is getting more serious.
Under the initial takeover plan, the BMA wanted its Culture, Sports and Tourism Department to operate the centre, booting out the BACC foundation. In media reports, governor Aswin Kwanmuang said he wanted the centre to accommodate "co-working space" after he reportedly expressed disappointment upon seeing some young people squatting on the floors during his "unannounced" visit.
Instead, Pol Gen Aswin 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".
While the BMA or the governor did not make it clear what was the real reason -- or motive -- for its takeover plan, some city officials were quoted by media outlets commenting on the centre's budget.
They said the BMA has to cover about 40 million baht yearly, as stated in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin and the networks on Aug 19, 2005. This was the year the BACC opened to the public, following a long struggle with the city administration under then governor Samak Sundaravej who had pushed for an art centre with a shopping mall.
As part of the endeavour to take over the BACC, some city officials tried to give an impression that the centre "is operated at a loss''. However, governor Aswin adamantly denied such assertions came from him, though he made no secret of his irritation with the foundation's management.
But the governor had to make a U-turn, albeit reluctantly, after fierce resistance from the artists, with the art advocacy networks lodging a petition with the government in May calling for its intervention.
In his interview with the media, the governor said he had told the city's Culture, Sports and Tourism Department to put the takeover plan on hold. He said the BACC Foundation would continue to operate the centre until 2021 in compliance with a 2005 MoU. At that point, the BMA will make another move.
But the problem is, despite a pledge to leave the BACC alone, the BMA has effectively terminated its budget allocation to the centre. Obviously, this is a violation of the MoU.
Without city support, the foundation has struggled, using its savings, including income from rents and parking, to run the centre over the past months.
But a new crisis looms: the BMA is to scrap the 40-million-baht subsidy. There are reports that the coup-installed City Council, the legislative branch of the city, has refused to allocate budget for the next fiscal year which will begin in less than two weeks.
By not giving budget to BACC, the city is not truly keeping its hands off the place. In fact, the zero-budget measure is just a dirty trick to pressure the current BACC foundation into giving up.
While Pol Gen Aswin dropped a clue that it's the centre's management that irritates him, the BACC has countered with information showcasing its success. According to a veteran artist, one of the centre's founding members, the BACC hosts more than 100 art events attended by more than 1.7 million visitors each year.
In fact, members of the public expect governor Aswin to act in a more gentlemanly manner. If he has information to support his claim of mismanagement or lack of transparency on the part of the foundation or its members, he should do the public a favour and bare it all in an open manner.
Or prove any wrongdoing, if there is any. The governor has every power to confront the issue head-on if he has evidence. That would do the city, and the country, a great benefit.
Unless he can prove of mismanagement, the governor and the city administration must continue the subsidy. This dirty game will affect not only the foundation but also members of the public and the arts in Thailand in general.
The BMA took the wrong tack from the beginning by citing profit or loss as a measure of success. Such an approach shows a lack of understanding of the issue.
Besides, governor Aswin should realise that a 40-million-baht-a-year subsidy is not much. A feasibility study of a 4km elevated road over the Asok intersection that has been stalled for decades cost the city 22 million baht from its coffers.
While the allegation against BACC foundation remains unclear, what is clear is: bureaucrats have no relevant experience and are not qualified to run an art institution.
To put in bluntly, there is no space for bureaucrats, let alone a governor with a police background, in art management.