bangkok art & culture centre

The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) is a contemporary arts hub located in the center of Bangkok. Today, I had the pleasure of visiting and exploring the endless options of art, culture, design, theatre and film. Cultural and educational events alike take place in its exhibition areas and performance spaces. The BACC includes many art galleries, chic cafes, bookshops, unique craft stores and even an art library.

Construction for the BACC started in 2005 and was complete three years later. It is equipped with nine floors arranged around a beautiful atrium.

The BACC's mission states that it "visualizes itself as a centre of cultural diversity for a sustainable social development". Essentially, the centre hopes to create a meeting place for artists and to provide a culturally friendly environment for the community.

The art centre features new, creative art exhibitions each month. A calendar of all the upcoming exhibitions can be found on the BACC website or on the outside of the centre itself.

One of the exhibitions I visited today was called "Crow" The 1st Solo Exhibition. I had the pleasure of meeting the artist whose name is Ravi Gitsanalom. This exhibition runs until February 28 and can be found on the second floor.

Something really neat about the BACC is its mission to not only showcase artists' work but to encourage the community to get involved in artistic and cultural expression. As soon as you get into the BACC, centered around the atrium are creative craft shops, portrait artists ready to paint for you and even a self jewelry-making store. Walking around the BACC sets for you a feeling of creative inspiration.

A store called "happening" is what caught my attention first. Its a kind of crafty, artistic store featuring handmade journals, postcards, notebooks, etc from all around Thailand and more.

These portrait artists can complete beautiful drawings within minutes for customers.

The true highlight of my experience at the BACC was discovering the plethora of quaint coffee shops and small eateries. If I took photos of all of the different cafes in the BACC, we would be here all day. I picked out my favorite cafe named Gallery Drip Coffee and a small ice cream shop called IceDEA.

BACC is open from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. and closed on Mondays. Entry to the BACC is free unless you want to explore the seventh, eighth and ninth floors. In which that case you are asked to obtain a pass that requires you to deposit your belongings in a locker before entering. The fee for this is 100 baht. Photography is allowed in the BACC except on the seventh, eighth and ninth floors.

Getting to the BACC is very easy as it is right off of the BTS. It is a short walk off of the BTS stop National Stadium. From there you can take a bridge that connects the BACC with the BTS. You won't be able to miss it.

Overall, the Bangkok Art & Culture Centre is definitely a piece of the city to explore. It only takes an hour or so to see the centre. To find out more about the Bangkok Art & Culture Centre, visit the website.

Here's to art!

a fellow wanderer | kathleen brandt

Having been traveling for awhile now, I have met many like-minded people. Travelers love sharing stories and have many of them. The world is such a big & beautiful place - differing so frequently.

This is the first in a series that gives me the chance to discuss & then share an in-depth look into a friend's travel experiences and how those experiences helped shaped and change them.

This first one is very special to me because it is for one of my dear friends who is still state-side. Today- is her birthday. What a better way to celebrate the life of a wonderful person than to share her wonderful tales (and beautiful writing) with the world.