On 16 July 2026, MATDOT Art Center welcomed participants of the 2026 Capacity-Building Programme for Contemporary Arts and Culture Professionals, organised by the Contemporary Art and Culture Institute under Thailand’s Office of Contemporary Art and Culture (OCAC), Ministry of Culture. Centred on the theme “A Liveable Art City,” the programme brought together cultural practitioners, policymakers, and local representatives to exchange ideas on the future of creative urban development in Thailand.
The delegation was led by curator Ark Fongsmut, who serves as the programme’s advisor, alongside executives from the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture. Participants also included representatives from Phrae and Ratchaburi, the two provinces selected as Thailand’s designated “Art Cities” under this year’s national policy.
The programme opened with a lecture entitled “An Art City Is More Than Just Art” by Tawatchai Somkong, founder and director of MATDOT. His presentation examined the meaning and significance of the art city concept within the Thai context, considering both its social and economic dimensions. He also discussed the importance of collaboration between government agencies, private organisations, and local communities, before addressing the relationship between art cities and the Thailand Biennale, highlighting the distinctions between contemporary art and contemporary culture, as well as the challenges of organising international-scale art events in Thailand.
The second session featured Kiranya Leksomboon, author of The City That Feels Liveable, whose lecture explored successful international case studies of cities transformed through progressive public policy. Drawing on these examples, she discussed practical approaches that could be adapted to strengthen urban development in Thailand.
The event concluded with an extended discussion, allowing participants to exchange ideas, share experiences, and engage directly with both speakers on the opportunities and challenges of building genuinely liveable art cities.
