Silpathorn Award

Image:OCAC logo Thai.png

The Silpathorn Award, {{langx|th|รางวัลศิลปาธร}}, is an honour for living Thai contemporary artists presented annually by the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, Ministry of Culture of Thailand. The awards were established in 2004 to promote Thai contemporary artists who are considered to be in their mid-career and who have already made notable contributions to Thai fine arts and culture.{{cite web | title = Thunska Pansittivorakul received the Silpathorn award 2007 | publisher = ThaiIndie.com | url = http://thaiindie.com/wizContent.asp?wizConID=460&txtmMenu_ID=7 | accessdate = 2007-08-23 }}

Artists are honored in the fields of visual arts, literature, music, film, performing arts, design and architecture.{{cite web | title = National treasures: Seven contemporary artists are recognised at this year's Silpathorn Awards | publisher = The Nation (Thailand) | date = 2007-08-05 | url = http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/08/05/lifestyle/lifestyle_30043734.php | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130129134055/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/08/05/lifestyle/lifestyle_30043734.php | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 29, 2013 | accessdate = 2007-08-23 }}{{cite web | last = Phataranawanik | first = Phatarawadee | title = National treasures | publisher = Daily Xpress | date = 2008-08-06 | url = http://www.dailyxpress.net/2008/08/06/entertainment/entertainment_3922.php | accessdate = 2008-08-08 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120723085007/http://www.dailyxpress.net/2008/08/06/entertainment/entertainment_3922.php | archive-date = 2012-07-23 }}

History

Education and promotion of fine arts in the Kingdom of Thailand was under the auspices of the Department of Fine Arts of the Ministry of Palace Affairs. In 1943, the department's schools became Silpakorn University, founded by Silpa Bhirasri, an Italian sculptor who was named Corrado Feroci, but became a Thai citizen during World War II and is considered the father of fine arts in Thailand.{{cite web | last = Gearing | first = Julian | title = Painted into a corner | publisher = AsiaWeek | date = 1998-10-02 | url = http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/98/1002/feat3.html | accessdate = 2007-08-24}}

Other offices promoting fine arts included the Office of the National Culture Commission and the Religious Affairs Department.

In 1985, the Office of the National Culture Commission established the Thailand National Artist designation, which is conferred on notable Thai artists as a lifetime achievement award.

The Office of Contemporary Art and Culture (OCAC), under the Ministry of Culture, was formed in 2001 and was tasked with supporting, and promoting contemporary art and culture. While the National Artist programme has been generally aimed at veteran artists, especially those in the areas of Thai traditional arts, the OCAC recognised that younger artists needed support, promotion and recognition as well. In 2004, the Silpathorn Award was created, with honorees in the fields of visual art, literature, music, film and performing arts. In 2008, an award for the field of design was added.

=Qualifications=

Silpathorn Award honorees must meet the following qualifications:

Thai nationals.
Between the ages 30 to 50 years and still alive on the announcement day.
Their works have continually been exposed to the general public until present.
Their works have been released in Thailand and have made a great impact on Thai contemporary art and inspired young artists.

=Silpathorn Kitikhun award=

In 2008, a Distinguished ("Kitikhun") category was created for senior artists over 50 years of age who, because of controversy or unconventional works, would likely never be considered for the more conservative Thailand National Artist honor. At first this category was known in English as the "Honorary" category, but the translation was changed to "Distinguished" at the time the awards were actually given. This is because it was felt that in English an "honorary" award might be considered to be less "real" whereas the intent of the committee was to create a senior grade of the award.

=Definition of Silpathorn=

Silpathorn in Thai language is a combination of two words: "Silpa", meaning "Art", and "Thorn" (or "Torn"), meaning "the Upholder", thus Silpathorn means "Upholder of Art".

=Silpathorn brooch, cash prize=

The Silpathorn Award is in the form of a brooch, modeled on the emblem of the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, and made of white and yellow gold and decorated with diamonds and emeralds. There is also a cash prize, which {{As of|2007|lc=on}} was 100,000 baht.

List of Silpathorn Award winners

style="width:5%;"\|Year ! style="width:14%;"\|Visual arts ! style="width:14%;"\|Literature ! style="width:14%;"\|Music ! style="width:14%;"\|Film ! style="width:14%;"\|Performing arts ! style="width:14%;"\|Design{{ref label\|design\|A\|A}} ! style="width:14%;"\|Architecture{{ref label\|architecture\|B\|B}}
class="wikitable"
2004	Chalermchai Kositpipat	Chart Korbjitti	Danu Huntrakul	Pen-Ek Ratanaruang	Pradit Prasarttong
2005	Pornchai Jaima	Saksiri Meesomsueb	Bundit Ungrangsee	Apichatpong Weerasethakul	Manop Meejamrus
2006	Chatchai Puipia	Win Lyovarin	Nat Yontararak	Wisit Sasanatieng	Pichet Klunchuen
2007	Pinaree Sanpitak Vasan Sitthiket Rirkrit Tiravanija	Siriworn Kaewkan	Narong Prangcharoen	Thunska Pansittivorakul	Nimit Pipithkul
2008	Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook	Paiwarin Khao-Ngam Khajornrit Raksa	Narongrit Dhamabutra	Nonzee Nimibutr	Sineenadh Keitprapa	Sompis Phosakul
2009{{cite news \| last = Phataranawik \| first = Phatarawadee \| title = Silpathorn 'breaks rule', awards foreign artist \| work = Print edition only \| page = 2 \| publisher = Daily Xpress/The Nation (Thailand) \| date = 2009-06-19 }}	Phatyos Buddhacharoen Sakarin Krue-on	Orasom Suddhisakorn	Den Euprasert	Pimpaka Towira	Janaprakal Chandruang	Kulapat Yantrasast Eggarat Wongcharit Somchai Jongsaeng Prinya Roj-arayanont
2010{{cite news \| last = Jaichalard \| first = Pakamard \| title = Ministry lauds 35 top artists at Silpathorn awards \| publisher = The Nation (Thailand) \| date = 2010-06-18 \| url = http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/06/18/national/Ministry-lauds-35-top-artists-at-Silpathorn-awards-30131842.html \| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130129170540/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/06/18/national/Ministry-lauds-35-top-artists-at-Silpathorn-awards-30131842.html \| url-status = dead \| archive-date = January 29, 2013 \| accessdate = 2010-06-27}}	Navin Rawanchaikul	Saneh Sangsuk	Chaiyoot Tosa-nga	Aditya Assarat	Nikorn Saetang	Withoon Khunalangkan (interior design) Pracha Suveeranont (graphic design) Wasinburi Supanichwarapat (design)	Patama Roonrakwit
2019{{cite web \|title=The Ministry of Culture announced the winners of the 2019 Silpathorn Awards \|url=http://www.thailandtoday.in.th/news-update/dynamic-thailand/2200 \|accessdate=28 August 2020}}	Natee Utarit	Worapoj Panpong	Anan Nakkong	Sayombhu Mukdeeprom	Damkeng Thitapiyasak	Singh Intrachooto	Boonserm Premthada
2020{{Cite book \|last=Office of Contemporary Art and Culture \|title=The Silpathorn Award 2023 \|publisher=Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, Ministry of Culture \|year=2023 \|isbn=978-616-543-828-5 \|location=Bangkok}} \|Arin Rungjang \|Uten Mahamid \|Kaiwan Kulavadhanothai \|Wannasak Sirilar \|Anocha Suwichakornpong \|Surachai Puthikulangkura \|Chatpong Chuenruedeemol
2021 \|Pratchaya Phinthong \|Veerasak Chansongsang \|Anothai Nitibhon \|Sumontha Suanpolrat \|Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit \|Kritsana Yensutjai \|Tonkao Panin
2022 \|Tawatchai Puntasawasdi \|Jadet Kamjorndet \|Chaipak Patarajinda \|Sarawanee Tanatanit \|Lee Chatameteekul \|Nakarin Yano \|Varudh Varavarn
2023 \|Tawan Wattuya \|Jidanun Lueangpiansamut \|Damrih Banawitayakit \|Monthatip Suksopha \|Anucha Boonyawatana \|Isr Upa-in \|Attaporn Kobkongsanti