The Fine Arts Department ( th, กรมศิลปากร, ) is a government department of

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 b ...

, under the Ministry of Culture. Its mission is managing the country's cultural heritage.

History

The department was originally established by King

Vajiravudh 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 efforts ...

in 1912, split off from the Palace's Religious Affairs Office, and was primarily concerned with protecting Buddhist monuments. In 1926, during the reign of King

Prajadhipok Prajadhipok ( th, ประชาธิปก, RTGS: ''Prachathipok'', 8 November 1893 – 30 May 1941), also Rama VII, was the seventh monarch of Siam of the Chakri dynasty. His reign was a turbulent time for Siam due to political and ...

, the department was merged into the

Royal Society The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, r ...

, along with the Museum Department and Archaeology Department, in effect consolidating several cultural heritage-related agencies. In 1933, following the abolition of absolute monarchy, the Royal Society's archaeological arm was split off and re-established as the Fine Arts Department under the Ministry of Education (then known as the Ministry of Public Instruction). It became part of the Ministry of Culture from 1952 until 1957 (when the ministry was dissolved), and again in 2002 when the ministry was re-established.

Functions

The Fine Arts Department is responsible for the study and management of archaeological sites and objects, as well as the operation of the country's national museums, which it does under the legal framework of the Act on Ancient Monuments, Antiques, Objects of Art and National Museums, B.E. 2504 (1961). It also covers

intangible cultural heritage An intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is a practice, representation, expression, knowledge, or skill considered by UNESCO to be part of a place's cultural heritage. Buildings, historic places, monuments, and artifacts are cultural property. Int ...

, literature, and historical archives. Among its constituent bureaus are the National Archives and the National Library. Its budget for FY2019 is 3,070.1 million baht.

Organization

The Fine Arts Department is composed of the following divisions: * Office of the Secretariat * Archaeology Division * Underwater Archaeology Division * Center for Information Technology on Art and Culture * Office of Performing Arts * Office of Traditional Arts * Office of National Museums * Office of Literature and History * Office of Architecture * Office of the National Archives * Office of the National Library * Twelve Regional Offices

References

{{reflist Government departments of Thailand Cultural heritage of Thailand National heritage organizations