Silpakorn University (SU.) ( th, มหาวิทยาลัยศิลปากร; ) is a

national university A national university is mainly a university created or managed by a government, but which may also at the same time operate autonomously without direct control by the state. Some national universities are associated with national cultural or po ...

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...

. The university was founded in

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...

in 1943 by Tuscan–born art professor Corrado Feroci, who took the Thai name

Silpa Bhirasri Silpa Bhirasri ( th, ศิลป์ พีระศรี; ; ), born Corrado Feroci (15 September 1892 – 14 May 1962), was a Tuscan-born Thai sculptor. He is considered the father of modern art in Thailand and was instrumental in the found ...

when he became a Thai citizen. It began as a fine arts university and now includes many other faculties as well. In 2016, it has 25,210 students.

History

Silpakorn University was originally established as the School of Fine Arts under Thailand's

Fine Arts Department The Fine Arts Department ( th, กรมศิลปากร, ) is a government department of Thailand, under the Ministry of Culture. Its mission is managing the country's cultural heritage. History The department was originally established ...

in 1933. The school offered the only painting and sculpture programs and waived tuition fees for government officials and students. Its creation owes much to the almost lifetime devotion of Professor Silpa Bhirasri, an Italian sculptor (formerly Corrado Feroci) who was commissioned during the reign of King Rama VI to work in the Fine Arts Department. He subsequently enlarged his classes to include greater members of the interested public before setting up the School of Fine Arts. The school gradually developed and was officially accorded a new status and named Silpakorn University on 12 October 1943. Its inaugural faculty was the Faculty of Painting and Sculpture. In 1955, the Faculty of Thai Architecture was established, later named the Faculty of Architecture) and two more faculties were created, the Faculty of Archaeology and the Faculty of Decorative Arts. In 1966, Silpakorn University diversified the four faculties into sub–specializations to broaden its offerings, but the university's Wang Tha Phra campus proved inadequate. A new campus, Sanam Chandra Palace, was established in Nakhon Pathom Province in the former residential compound of

King Rama VI Vajiravudh ( th, วชิราวุธ, , 1 January 188126 November 1925) was the sixth monarch of Siam under the Chakri dynasty as Rama VI. He ruled from 23 October 1910 until his death in 1925. King Vajiravudh is best known for his effort ...

. The first two faculties based on this campus were the Faculty of Arts in 1968 and the Faculty of Education in 1970. Later, three more faculties were created: the Faculty of Science in 1972, the Faculty of Pharmacy in 1986, and the Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Technology in 1992. In 1999, the Faculty of Music was created. In 1997, Silpakorn extended its reach by establishing a new campus in

Phetchaburi Province Phetchaburi ( th, เพชรบุรี, ) or Phet Buri () is one of the western or central provinces (''changwat'') of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram, and Prachuap Khiri Khan. In the w ...

. The new campus was named "Phetchaburi Information Technology Campus". In 2001 and 2002, the Faculty of Animal Sciences and Agricultural Technology and the Faculty of Management Science were established on the Phetchaburi Campus. In 2003, the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) was established, as well as Silpakorn University International College (SUIC). Its role is to provide an international curriculum in additional fields of study.

Ganesha Ganesha ( sa, गणेश, ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in Ganapatya sect. His image is found throughout India. Hindu d ...

, one of the Hindu deities symbolizing arts and crafts, is Silpakorn University's emblem. The "university tree" is the chan tree.

Campuses

Tha Phra Palace

Tha Phra Palace was Silpakorn's first campus. It occupies a small part of the inner city of

known as

Rattanakosin Island Rattanakosin Island ( th, เกาะรัตนโกสินทร์, , ) is a historic area in the Phra Nakhon District in the city of Bangkok, Thailand. It is bordered by the Chao Phraya River to the west and various canals to the east t ...

. Opposite the

Grand Palace The Grand Palace ( th, พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Royal Institute of Thailand. (2011). ''How to read and how to write.'' (20th Edition). Bangkok: Royal Institute of Thailand. .) is a complex of buildings at the heart of Ban ...

and covering an area of 8 rai, the campus was once the palace of Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong. On its west side is the

Chao Phraya River The Chao Phraya ( or ; th, แม่น้ำเจ้าพระยา, , or ) is the major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It flows through Bangkok and then into the Gulf of Thailand. Et ...

. The office of the university president is in

Taling Chan District Taling Chan ( th, ตลิ่งชัน, ) is one of the 50 districts (''khet'') of Bangkok, Thailand. Its neighbours, clockwise from the north, are Bang Kruai district of Nonthaburi province and Bang Phlat, Bangkok Noi, Bangkok Yai, Ph ...

Sanam Chandra Palace Campus

Sanam Chandra Palace Campus is on the grounds of Sanam Chandra Palace in

Nakhon Pathom Nakhon Pathom ( th, นครปฐม, ) is a city (''thesaban nakhon'') in central Thailand, the former capital of Nakhon Pathom province. One of the most important landmarks is the giant Phra Pathommachedi. The city is also home to Thailand's ...

which was once the royal pavilion of

Chakri dynasty The Chakri dynasty ( th, ราชวงศ์ จักรี, , , ) is the current reigning dynasty of the Kingdom of Thailand, the head of the house is the king, who is head of state. The family has ruled Thailand since the founding of the ...

. It occupies 440

rai RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana (; commercially styled as Rai since 2000; known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane) is the national public broadcasting company of Italy, owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. RAI operates many ter ...

Phetchaburi Information Technology Campus

The 820 rai Phetchaburi Information Technology Campus is in

Faculties

* Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts * Faculty of Architecture * Faculty of Archaeology * Faculty of Decorative Arts * Faculty of Arts * Faculty of Education * Faculty of Science * Faculty of Pharmacy * Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Technology * Faculty of Music * Faculty of Animal Sciences and Agricultural Technology * Faculty of Management Science * Faculty of Information and Communication Technology * Silpakorn University International College (SUIC) * Graduate School

Notable alumni

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, The Princess Royal and Princess Debaratana Rajasuda ( th, มหาจักรีสิรินธร, ; ; born April 2, 1955), formerly Princess Sirindhorn Debaratanasuda Kitivadhanadulsobhak ( th, สมเ ...

– Princess of Thailand * Princess Chulabhorn – Princess of Thailand * Princess Siribhachudabhorn – Princess of Thailand * Angkarn Kalayanapong – National Artist of Thailand (Literature), poet * Chalermchai Kositpipat – National Artist of Thailand (Fine art and visual art), Founder of the White Temple (

Wat Rong Khun Wat Rong Khun ( th, วัดร่องขุ่น), better known as the White Temple, is a privately owned art exhibit in the style of a Buddhist temple in Pa O Don Chai, Mueang District, Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. It is owned by Chale ...

) * Thawan Duchanee – National Artist of Thailand (Fine art and visual art) *

Chavalit Soemprungsuk Chavalit Soemprungsuk ( th, ชวลิต เสริมปรุงสุข, 30 July 1939 – 27 April 2020) was a Thai painter, sculptor, and printmaker based in Thailand and the Netherlands. In 2014, Soemprungsuk was honored as a National A ...

– National Artist of Thailand (visual art), painter

Gallery

File:Silpakorn university Wang Tha Phra campus.jpg, Wang Tha Phra campus File:Kaew Bridge in Sanam Chandra Palace Campus.jpg, File:Faculty of Art Silpakorn University.jpg, File:Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University.jpg, File:Sanam Chandra Palace Campus main gate.jpg, File:Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Technology Silpakorn University.jpg, Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Technology

References

External links

Official website of Silpakorn University

Social News Silpakorn
{{authority control Universities and colleges in Bangkok Educational institutions established in 1943 Phra Nakhon district 1943 establishments in Thailand Art schools in Thailand