“Prime Minister Anutin has assigned Minister of Culture Sabeeda to preside over the dignified opening of the ‘Thailand Biennale, Phuket 2025

Prime Minister Anutin has assigned Minister of Culture Sabeeda to preside over the dignified opening of the ‘Thailand Biennale, Phuket 2025,’ held in solemn remembrance of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother. The Minister of Culture invites students, young people, the general public, and international visitors to experience contemporary artworks by 65 Thai and international artists and collectives across 19 locations, as well as to participate in activities and view exhibitions at 13 SALAs throughout Phuket from 29 November 2025 to 30 April 2026. The event is expected to attract three million visitors and generate 30 billion baht in economic circulation, contributing significantly to the national economy.

On Saturday, 29 November 2025, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul assigned Ms. Sabeeda Thaised, Minister of Culture, to preside over the opening ceremony of the Thailand Biennale, Phuket 2025 International Contemporary Art Festival. The event was attended by Mr. Prasop Riangngoen, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture; Mr. Saransak Srikruanetra, Governor of Phuket; Mrs. Kasorn Kumnerdpech, Director - General of the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture (OCAC); senior officials from the Ministry of Culture; the project steering committee; diplomatic representatives from various countries; Ms. Puangphaka Chaowai, Phuket Provincial Cultural Officer and representatives from Southern Provincial Cultural Offices; Ms. Anchalee Vanich Tephabutra, President of the Phuket Art Association; Mr. Arin Rungjang, Artistic Director of the project; Ms. Marisa Phandharakrajadej, Curator of the project; Mr. David Teh, Artistic Director of the project and Ms. Hera Chan, Curator of the project, participating Thai and international artists; representatives from government agencies, private sectors, artist networks across Phuket and regional provinces; and members of the media. The ceremony was held at Saphan Hin Public Park, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket Province.

Ms. Sabeeda Thaised, Minister of Culture, stated This initiative is part of the Ministry’s broader cultural policy under the concept of “Thai Thai”, aiming to enhance community value and opportunities, expand impact at the national level, and strengthen Thailand’s competitiveness on the global stage, extend its impact across the nation and strengthen Thailand’s competitiveness on the international stage, thereby preserving, fostering, and guiding Thai culture toward a sustainable future.”

The Minister of Culture further stated that the Thailand Biennale International Contemporary Art Festival is Thailand’s premier international contemporary art event, aimed at driving the country’s creative economy through cultural and artistic resources. The Thailand Biennale, Phuket 2025 marks the fourth edition of the festival, taking place from 29 November 2025 to 30 April 2026 in Phuket Province. The festival spans three districts—Mueang, Kathu, and Thalang—under the theme “Eternal Kalpa. It serves as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of even the most steadfast love, reminding us of the inevitability of decline—whether through consumption, technological advancement, or social change—which continues to strain the fragile balance of life on our planet. It calls upon all of us to safeguard and nurture the natural world as a symbol of enduring continuity.

The festival brings together 65 artists and artist collectives from 25 countries, both Thai and international, to create and exhibit contemporary art across 19 venues in two districts of Phuket.

“The opening of the Thailand Biennale, Phuket 2025 International Contemporary Art Festival emphasizes elegance and aims to enhance Thailand’s image, while paying respectful tribute to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother. This international event leverages Thailand’s distinctive and unique cultural and artistic heritage as a medium to promote the country’s positive image, create cultural and economic value, and advance the creative industry.

The festival positions Phuket as a city of art and a key destination for global visitors, generating employment, income, and sustainable economic development for communities in Phuket and across Thailand. The organizers aim to attract at least three million visitors and generate an estimated economic turnover of no less than 30 billion baht in Phuket and surrounding areas. The Minister of Culture warmly invites students, the public, and international tourists to explore contemporary artworks and participate in the diverse exhibitions and artistic activities at the Thailand Biennale, Phuket 2025 in Phuket Province.”

Mr. Saransak Srikruanetra, Governor of Phuket, stated that Phuket Province, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture through the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture (OCAC), government agencies, the private sector, local administrative organizations, communities, and artist networks from Phuket and other provinces, is hosting the Thailand Biennale, Phuket 2025 International Contemporary Art Festival.

The festival aims to promote contemporary art cooperation at both national and international levels and to position Phuket as a city of art and a continuous center for art-related activities. This initiative benefits society, the economy, and culture, while enhancing the image of Phuket and Thailand. It also supports cultural tourism alongside nature-based tourism in Phuket and the southern region.

Visitors will experience Phuket as a city distinguished by its rich artistic and cultural heritage, particularly its unique architecture and contemporary art, harmoniously integrated with its natural surroundings in an environmentally friendly manner. The festival also generates employment and income for local communities, Phuket Province, and neighboring provinces in the southern region.

Mr. Arin Rungjang, Artistic Director of the Thailand Biennale, Phuket 2025, stated “The Thailand Biennale, Phuket 2025 is conceived through a reflection on the city’s rich history—its economic and social development, and its transformation over time into an international tourism destination. Unlike other provinces, however, Phuket lacks dedicated spaces for contemporary art, such as art galleries or contemporary museums. In response, the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture and the curatorial team have taken this limitation as a point of departure, identifying opportunities to integrate art into existing sites, particularly those that are underutilized or undergoing transition, such as the Pearl Cinema, the Gymnasium, and Saphan Hin.

The aim of this edition is not to create a fully fledged ‘art city’ through new infrastructure, but rather to use art as a mechanism to connect what already exists—collective memories, spaces, communities, and the city’s ongoing transformations. Through this approach, contemporary art is able to enter the interstices and thresholds of Phuket, a city positioned between past and future, between mining heritage and resort development, between local communities and capital. In doing so, the Biennale seeks to offer audiences knowledge, meaningful experiences, and a deeper encounter with Phuket across its historical, cultural, and artistic dimensions.”