The Activity Creation by Organizing a Contemporary Art and Culture Festival ‘Woow! Thakat Festival’ to Add Economic Value in the Wat Nang Nong Community, Wutthakat Road, Bangkok

Abstract

The purposes of this research were 1. to study the background of Wat Nang Nong community, Wutthakat Road, Bangkok. 2. to study the conceptual presentation and creative approaches for organizing a contemporary art and culture festival to add the economic value of Wat Nang Nong community, Wutthakat Road, Bangkok. The method used was qualitative research, with data being collected from related document and a 20-person focus group interview in which families of artists in Wat Nang Nong Community who had been practicing Thai traditional orchestra, the traditional role play of Kratua Taeng Suea, the craft of Chinese styled lion heads, and contemporary art works were selected and included.  The research then clarified the potential guidelines for organizing a contemporary art and culture festival to add economic value to Wat Nang Nong community, Wutthakat Road, Bangkok. The findings revealed that Wat Nang Nong Community was a long-standing historic area enriched with invaluable cultural attributes which had been valued and maintained within the community. Nevertheless, the current social changes had brought about the gradual disappearance of the arts and crafts which once touched upon the community lives. Despite the changes, the value of cultural resources could still benefit the community through the creative process of organizing the Woow! Thakat Contemporary Art and Culture Festival, with an aim to create economic values within Wat Nang Nong Community, located on Wutthakat Road, in Bangkok.