26 April 2024
On April 26, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over ceremonies laying the foundation stone for Nan and Eastern Lanna Art and Culture Center in Mueang Nan District, Nan Province. She was warmly welcomed by Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Mr. Suttipong Juljarern, Permanent Secretary of Interior, Mr. Chainarong Wongyai, Governor of Nan Province, Mr. Banthoon Lamsam, Vice Chairman of the RAKPANAN Foundation, along with representatives of the judiciary, military, police, heads of government agencies, district chiefs, and people from various sectors of society. On this occasion, Her Royal Highness laid a wreath, lit incense sticks and candles, and offered gold items in homage before the statue of King Chulalongkorn. She then sprinkled holy water, anointed the foundation stone, placed nine-colored gems, and scattered flowers. Following the ceremony, she viewed an exhibition and inspected a model of the buildings. The former Nan Provincial Hall, constructed in 1968, followed the standard design of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning at the time. However, the limited size of the buildings and expand made it impossible to accommodate the growing needs of various government agencies. In 2005, Nan Province adopted a master plan for the conservation and development of the old city of Nan and began implementation. By 2015, the Nan Provincial Hall had been relocated to the new Nan Provincial Government Center in Chaiyasathan Sub-district. The former Nan Provincial Hall then fell into disuse. The Ministry of Interior recognized the potential and readiness of the RAKPANAN Foundation under Royal Patronage and invited them to support the project to repurpose the former Nan Provincial Hall as Nan and Eastern Lanna Art and Culture Center. The project is to be carried out smoothly, adhering to all relevant procedures, processes, regulations, and laws. On March 14, 2023, the Cabinet acknowledged and approved the principles and operations proposed by Nan Province for creating Nan and Eastern Lanna Art and Culture Center and on September 14, 2023, the Ministry of Interior and the RAKPANAN Foundation under Royal Patronage held a contract signing ceremony at the Ministry of Interior to formalize the use of the designated site. The agreement was signed by Mr. Suttipong Juljarern, Permanent Secretary of Interior, and Mr. Banthoon Lamsam, Vice President of the RAKPANAN Foundation under Royal Patronage. Nan and Eastern Lanna Art and Culture Center project spans an area of 9 rai, 1 ngan, and 11 square wa and will include an Art and Cultural Hall, a multi-purpose auditorium building, a service building, a botanical garden, and an activity area. Construction is projected at two years with the RAKPANAN Foundation under Royal Patronage fully funding the construction and management budgets throughout the contract period. The project operates under the principle of "Sustainable Development of Nan Citizens through Awareness, Learning, and Application with Understanding," and will provide accessibility to all with no service fees, admission fees, activity fees, or any other charges for use by the public. The initiative emphasizes local employment and equal opportunity, positioning itself as a significant model learning center for Thailand.
15 November 2023
Mr. Suttipong Juljarern, Permanent Secretary of Interior, presided over rites paying homage to the royal monument of King Chulalongkorn, the former rulers of Nan, and the guardian spirits as part of initiating the project to repurpose the site of the old Nan Provincial Hall as Nan and Eastern Lanna Art and Culture Center. The ceremony took place at the former Nan Provincial Hall in Mueang Nan District, Nan Province. The event featured several traditional rituals, including the offering of 100 bowls of rice, 100 sand chedis, and four Sawwa Tung. The Challokapala ceremony honoring the four guardian deities was performed and alms were offered to 100 monks and the Provincial Abbot of Nan along with other senior monks conducted a chanting ceremony at five rice fields. Government executives, private sector representatives, and numerous members of the public attended the event. To celebrate and pay homage, 100 dancers performed the Nan Long Dance, adding a vibrant cultural highlight to the occasion. The old Nan Provincial Hall, constructed in 1968 on Suriyapong Road, Nai Wiang Subdistrict, Mueang Nan District, Nan Province housed offices for several provincial government agencies and is owned by the Office of the Permanent Secretary of Interior. In 2015, the Nan Provincial Hall was relocated to the new Nan Provincial Government Center in Chaiyasathan Sub-district to alleviate congestion in the Nan Old City area. In 2019, the Ministry of Interior recognized the potential and readiness of the RAKPANAN Foundation and invited it to support and manage the creation of Nan and Eastern Lanna Art and Culture Center. On July 11, 2022, the Nan Old City Conservation and Development Subcommittee approved the proposed reconstruction of the old Nan Provincial Hall as Nan and Eastern Lanna Art and Culture Center. This decision marked the beginning of the construction project. Subsequently, four public hearings were conducted to ensure community engagement and to receive feedback. On September 14, 2023, the Ministry of Interior, represented by Mr. Sittipong Juljarern, Permanent Secretary of Interior, and Mr. Banthoon Lamsam, Vice Chairman of the RAKPANAN Foundation, signed a contract granting permission to use the site to repurpose the old Nan Provincial Hall site for Nan and Eastern Lanna Art and Culture Center. A ceremonial event was held to mark the occasion. The Ministry of Interior assigned the Nan Provincial Office and the Nan Provincial Public Works and Town & Country Planning Office to coordinate and act on behalf of the Office of the Permanent Secretary of Interior in matters related to the project. The site has been surveyed and prepared a draft with estimated demolition costs. All original structures will be demolished, but materials of historical value, such as the Garuda statue, the Nan Provincial Hall sign, and the inscription plaque of the Governor's Report Office, will be cataloged and inspected by a joint committee for preservation and eventual display in a museum. Usable materials will be auctioned. The whole existing building structures will be demolished. The demolition process will employ concrete clamps along with cranes or hoists to safely support and remove materials for breakdown or disposal. The interior will feature a rotating exhibition showcasing cultural heritage and ancestral wisdom, a Nan Creative Center for intellectual collaboration, a digital media learning area, a learning zone for young children, an activity space, facilities for seminars, a digital library, and meeting rooms for both individual and group use. The King Rama V Monument will be preserved at its current location. The new project buildings will include an art and cultural hall, a multipurpose meeting building, a botanical garden, a service building, and activity area. Demolition is scheduled to begin November 10, 2023, and is expected to last four months. New construction is projected at two years.
7 October 2023
On October 7, 2023, at 5:00 p.m., a press conference was held at Khuang Mueang Nan (Khuang Noi), Nai Wiang Subdistrict, Mueang Nan District, Nan Province, to discuss Nan and Eastern Lanna Art and Culture Center. The participants included Mr. Phongrat Phiromrat, Director-General of Public Works and Town & Country Planning; Mr. Chainarong Wongyai, Deputy Provincial Governor of Nan; Mr. Surapol Thiansut, Mayor of Nan City Municipality; and Phra Chayanantmuni, Deputy Provincial Ecclesiastical Governor of Nan and Abbot of Wat Phra That Chae Haeng. Their involvement highlighted the significance of this cultural and educational initiative. Mr. Phongrat Phiromrat, Director-General of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, stated that he had been assigned by the Permanent Secretary of Interior to represent the Ministry in the press conference highlighting the signing of a contract between the Ministry of Interior and the RAKPANAN Foundation on September 14, 2023, at the Ministry of Interior. This agreement permits the use of the site for the reconstruction of the old Nan Provincial Hall as Nan and Eastern Lanna Art and Culture Center. The press conference was held to raise awareness of the project among the people of Nan Province with the RAKPANAN Foundation as the primary supporter, providing the budget for the construction of all buildings within the project as well as funding for personnel and utility costs. Subsequent procedures were to be in accordance with the contract for the use of the site, which the Deputy Provincial Governor of Nan would later announce. Mr. Chainarong Wongyai, Deputy Provincial Governor of Nan, stated that a 2005 Cabinet resolution declared the area of Nan Old City a preservation and development zone, with the Nan Provincial Hall designated as a learning center for art and culture. In 2015, the Provincial Hall was relocated to the new provincial government center due to limited capacity and ongoing maintenance challenges. The old site was left unused and no agency had been able to develop the surrounding area. The Ministry of Interior recognized the potential and readiness of the RAKPANAN Foundation and invited them to serve as project support and management. Public hearings were held in Nan Province with 45,469 participants, of which 92% agreed and 1% disagreed with the project proposal. On March 14, 2022, the Cabinet approved project implementation and on September 14, 2023, the Ministry of Interior signed a contract with the RAKPANAN Foundation, appointing them as project supporters. The Foundation committed to funding all aspects of the project, including the construction of new buildings, demolition, personnel management, utility costs, and all related expenses, without utilizing any government funds. The project area would include an art and culture center, a multi-purpose auditorium, a service building, a botanical garden, and activity areas. It was explicitly stipulated that no service fees, membership fees, activity participation fees, meeting fees, or any other compensation would be collected from users. Furthermore, no portion of the area would be used for personal purposes, and no vacant space would be rented out for external use. Mr. Chainarong emphasized that the personnel involved in the project were selected from Nan Province and that the area and buildings were designed to be spaces that individuals of all ages could use collectively, reiterating that this project belonged to all the people of Nan Province. The project serves as a center for learning about art, culture, and traditions, ensuring that these legacies would be passed on to future generations. The project also aims to promote tourism and foster the sustainable development of Nan Province. Mr. Phongrat Phiromrat, Director-General of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, provided an explanation regarding the demolition process and measures to mitigate its impacts. The Ministry of Interior had assigned the Nan Provincial Office and the Nan Provincial Public Works and Town & Country Planning Office to coordinate and act on behalf of the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior in matters related to demolition and construction, tasks to be carried out in compliance with the Building Control Act B.E. 2522, the Crown Property Act B.E. 2522 the Government Procurement and Property Management Act B.E. 2560, and other relevant legislation. The project site is Crown Land plot Nor.Nor.405 (partial) in Nai Wiang Subdistrict, Mueang Nan District, covering an area of approximately 9 rai, 1 ngan, and 11 square wa. The Nan Provincial Public Works and Town & Country Planning Office has conducted a survey, drafted plans, and estimated demolition costs. The materials from the demolition are classified into three types: 1) Assets of historical value, including the Garuda statue, the Nan Provincial Hall sign, inscriptions, and the list of Nan provincial governors will be recorded and inspected by a joint committee. These items will be preserved for display in a museum. 2) Materials in usable condition will be identified and set aside for future use. 3) Unusable materials, including the old Nan Provincial Hall buildings and all existing structures both above and below ground have been approved for demolition, consistent with the final report of the Public Hearing Project in September 2022. The demolition process was scheduled to be completed within four months from the date permission was granted to use the project site. Demolition of the reinforced concrete structures shall employ advanced techniques, such as saw cutting, chain cutting, concrete clamps (hydraulic crusher), and wire saws supported by cranes or hoists to safely handle and remove materials. This process avoids the use of noise-intensive concrete breaker hammers. Measures will be implemented to prevent dust from spreading beyond the project area and sound-measuring instruments are to be installed to ensure noise levels do not exceed 75 decibels (A) at a distance of 30 meters. Existing trees within the project area will be carefully wrapped and temporarily relocated, with plans for replanting upon completion of construction. The King Rama V Monument will be preserved at its original location. The construction phase is projected to take 24 months from the completion of demolition. The Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning pledged its support and advisory services to ensure the project adhered to its guidelines. Mr. Surapol Thiansut, Mayor of Nan Municipality, presented the results of public hearings, including the opinions and needs of the people of Nan Province regarding Nan and Eastern Lanna Art and Culture Center. Phra Chayananthamuni, Deputy Provincial Ecclesiastical Governor of Nan and Abbot of Wat Phra That Chae Haeng, offered blessings and shared his perspective on the project. He affirmed that the implementation process was conducted appropriately as a collaborative effort between the government and public sectors. The Ministry of Interior entrusted the RAKPANAN Foundation with project operations, recognizing its readiness, capability, and alignment with ministry objectives. This facility was envisioned as a significant hub in Nan Province, serving as a center for learning and exchanging knowledge across diverse fields, such as art, culture, traditions, Buddhism, social sciences, economics, science, and political science. Phra Chayananthamuni expressed appreciation for the collective determination of the government, public, and private sectors, emphasizing that the project would bring meaningful and lasting benefits to Nan Province in the future.
14 September 2023
On September 14, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., a signing ceremony for the permit to use the site of the old Nan Provincial Hall for repurposing as Nan and Eastern Lanna Art and Culture Center was held at the Ratchabophit Meeting Room, 5th Floor, Damrong Rajanubhab Building, Ministry of Interior. The ceremony was presided over by Mr. Suttipong Juljarern, Permanent Secretary of Interior. Mr. Banthoon Lamsam, Vice Chairman of the RAKPANAN Foundation under Royal Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, along with Ms. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Chairperson of the KASIKORNTHAI Foundation, as witnessed by Mr. Phongrat Phiromrat, Director-General of Public Works and Town & Country Planning. The event was graciously attended by Phra Pipat Wachiropas, Director of the Somdej Phra Maha Thirajarn Buddhist Center, Dong Yai Wang Or Forest and Advisor to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior as well as by Phra Khru Suphatthammakhosit, Assistant Abbot of Wat Rakhang Khositaram and Acting Abbot of Wat Bang Luang Hua Pa. Other notable attendees included Mr. Chotinarin Kerdsom, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Interior and Head of the Disaster and Urban Development Mission Group; Mr. Wibun Waewbandit, Provincial Governor of Nan; Ms. Chonchanam Sunthonsaratun, Director and Legal Advisor of KASIKORNBANK; Mr. Mana Simma, Acting Legal Advisor; Ms. Boonchira Charoensak, Civil Engineer and Town and Country Planner of Nan Province; and Mr. Pornchai Yongnoppakul, Executive Vice President of KASIKORNBANK. Network partners also participated in the ceremony, highlighting the collaborative effort supporting this significant cultural and educational initiative.
14 March 2023
On March 14, 2023, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister, chaired a Cabinet meeting at the Santi Maitri Building (Outer Building). The Cabinet reviewed and acknowledged a progress report on the development of the Nan Old City Special Area as proposed by the Ministry of Interior (MoI). Details are, as below: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) reported that on July 11, 2022, the Sub-committee on the Conservation and Development of Nan Old City had approved the reconstruction project for the old Nan Provincial Hall as Nan and Eastern Lanna Art and Culture Center, and agreed to hold public hearings to gather community feedback. Subsequently, on December 7, 2022, the Committee for the Conservation and Development of Rattanakosin Island and Historic Cities, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, resolved, as follows: 1. Agreed in principle to request amendments to the master plan for the conservation and development of Nan Old City, including reconstruction of the Nan Provincial Hall as Nan and Eastern Lanna Art and Culture Center. 2. Agreed that Nan Province should develop a new master plan for the conservation and development of Nan Old City. This process should include a comprehensive review of the original master plan and an assessment of the appropriate use of areas within the Old City. A systematic participation process should be organized to involve relevant sectors and Nan Province should take into account the opinions of the committee as relevant. 3. Acknowledged and agreed with the operational principles of the Sub-committee for the Conservation and Development of Nan Old City, approving the reconstruction of the old Nan Provincial Hall as Nan and Eastern Lanna Art and Culture Center.
7 December 2022
On December 7, 2022, Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister, chaired the 2/2022 meeting of the Committee for the Conservation and Development of Rattanakosin Island and Historic Cities at the Five Provinces Border Forest Conservation Foundation Meeting Room via electronic media. The committee reviewed and approved the principles proposed by the Nan Old City Conservation and Development Sub-committee including the approval of the project to reconstruct the old Nan Provincial Hall as the Nan Art and Cultural Center, serving as a learning center for Eastern Lanna art and culture.
2 August 2022
Nan Province conducted four public hearings on the reconstruction project for the old Nan Provincial Hall, i.e. The first public hearing was held on August 2, 2022, at the meeting hall of the Pua District Office soliciting feedback from residents of the northern districts: Pua District, Thung Chang District, Chiang Klang District, Chaloem Phra Kiat District, Bo Kluea District, Tha Wang Pha District, and Song Khwae District. The second public hearing was held on August 3, 2022, at the meeting room of the Wiang Sa District Office soliciting feedback from residents of the southern districts: Wiang Sa District, Na Noi District, and Na Muen District. The third public hearing was held August 4, 2022, at the auditorium of Nakhon Nan Buddhist College, Phu Phiang District, soliciting feedback from residents of the central districts: Mueang Nan District, Phu Phiang District, Ban Luang District, Mae Charim District, and Santisuk District. The fourth public hearing was held August 19, 2022, at the Nakhon Nan Buddhist College auditorium, Phu Phiang District soliciting feedback from residents across all of Nan Province. Among the over 45,469 participants, 92% approved of the project, 7% expressed no opinion, and 1% disapproved.
11 July 2022
On July 11, 2022, Mr. Chainarong Wongyai, Deputy Provincial Governor of Nan, chaired a meeting of the Sub-committee on Conservation and Development of Nan Old City at a meeting room of Nakhon Nan Buddhist College, Mueang District, Nan Province. The meeting was co-chaired by Phra Ratchasanaphiban, Provincial Ecclesiastical Governor of Nan. Mr. Banthoon Lamsam, Vice Chairman of the RAKPANAN Foundation attended along with other Sub-committee members. The Sub-committee approved the project to reconstruct the old Nan Provincial Hall as Nan and Eastern Lanna Art and Culture Center. It was agreed to hold public hearing meetings to gather opinions and feedback from the community.