“Arts of the Kingdom” — a magnificent exhibition of exquisite but rarely seen traditional Thai crafts reflects the decades of work initiated under The Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques or the SUPPORT Foundation under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. The SUPPORT project was launched in 1970 by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand and was established as a foundation on 21 July 1976. The Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques or SUPPORT Foundation is dedicated to the preservation of the Thai art and cultural heritage and craftsmanship and has enabled farmers to earn supplementary income during the period after the annual harvest. First launched in 1992 to celebrate the auspicious occasion of the 60 th birthday anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen, the Arts of the Kingdom exhibition was last held to mark the auspicious occasions of the Diamond Jubilee or Sixtieth Anniversary Celebrations of His Majesty the King’s accession to the throne and His Majesty the King’s 80 th birthday in December 2007. The highlights of the Arts of the Kingdom exhibition currently being held at the Ananta Samakom Throne Hall at Dusit Palace include the awe-inspiring Suphannapetra golden junk – a masterpiece handcrafted by the artisans of the SUPPORT Foundation and presented to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on Her Majesty’s 72 nd birthday anniversary, the Phra Mahajanaka golden junk studded with precious gems and embellished with beetle wing collage, as well as several new additions to the collection.  | A spectacular model of the Suphannapetra golden junk
This masterpiece was handcrafted by the artisans of the SUPPORT Foundation and presented to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on Her Majesty’s 72nd birthday anniversary. | | | |  | |  | | Sivikakarn – covered palanquin | | The golden niello Phra Tinang Buddthan throne | | | | |  | A model of the majestic Royal Barge Suphannahongse or 'Golden Hamsa', a swan — like mythical steed of Brahma. King Rama I commanded the Royal Barge Sri Subanahongsa to be built soon after his accession to the throne in 1782. | | | |  | Sapakhap-phrakhajataan — a howdah or seat placed on an elephant’s back. The Thai kings of the Sukhothai, Ayutthaya and Thonburi period rode into battles on elephants, the royal mount. | | | |  | Bussabok Mala throne pavilion | ARTS OF THE KINGDOM V
By The SUPPORT Foundation's Chitralada Training Center
At the Ananta Samakom Throne Hall, Dusit Palace
10.00 - 20.00 hrs. (closed on Mondays)
Ticket sales from 10.00 - 19.00 hrs.
Ticket prices: 150 baht (75 baht for students)
Tel: +66 (0) 2283 9411, (0) 2283 9185
Dress code:
Appropriate attire is required. No shorts or sleeveless tops. Skirts and Thai-style sarong for women. The Origins of The SUPPORT Foundation
Following the accession to the throne of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand in 1946, Their Majesties have made extended journeys to all corners of the kingdom, particularly to the more remote regions where the need for help and support is the greatest. During these royal visits, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit learned that farming activities alone did not generate sufficient income to support farming families in rural Thailand. While His Majesty the King has initiated over a thousand royal projects in efforts to alleviate rural poverty, Her Majesty the Queen has likewise strived to develop alternative employment opportunities to supplement the basic income of rural farming communities throughout Thailand. During Her Majesty’s frequent visits to the various provinces around Thailand, HM Queen Sirikit noted that each of the regions of Thailand are sources of a vast variety of indigenous raw materials and cottage industries. These natural resources provided tremendous potential for the development of indigenous handicrafts. HM Queen Sirikit was convinced that if efforts were undertaken to promote indigenous handicrafts, the rural poor would be able to earn supplementary incomes. Her Majesty the Queen has since extended support to an extensive range of regional crafts. Royally-initiated projects specifically designed to promote indigenous crafts can be found in all four regions of Thailand. From the early days of the SUPPORT Foundation, Her Majesty the Queen has tirelessly devoted her efforts to the activities of the foundation. The SUPPORT Foundation provides vocational training for residents of rural communities dotted around Thailand and enables them to become skilled artisans. The training curriculum aims to provide future artisans with all the skills handed down from generation to generation by the most talented Thai craftsmen. The foundation also prepares trainees to go beyond the rote repetition of skills and patterns as taught and encourages individuals to develop artistic creativity. The SUPPORT Foundation also stresses the importance of technical excellence and the quest for perfection as being the way to achieve true creative freedom. Emphasis is placed on the incorporation of the ‘best practices’ in traditional Thai craftsmanship with the talents of an individual artisan. Marketing the products handcrafted by its trainees and graduates is one of the most important activities undertaken by the SUPPORT Foundation. Recognizing that it would be a challenge for village residents to find suitable markets for their craft products, the SUPPORT Foundation purchases finished products from each of the participating villages and arranges to sell them through various marketing channels, such as at the annual SUPPORT Foundation Fair held at Suan Amporn Gardens. The first SUPPORT Foundation training centre, which is also the headquarters, is located at Chitralada Palace in Bangkok. The organization houses a total of 23 training divisions. These are:  | Silver and Gold | | Golden nielloware | | Khram Damascene ware (the inlay of silver or gold strands on steel) | | Enamel | | Textile weaving | | Prae Wa silk | | Pha Jok weaving | | Pha Yok Dok and Pha Lai Khit | | Wood carving | | Soapstone Carving | | Handcrafted shadow puppets | | Yan Lipao basketry | | Lai Khit bamboo basketry | | Carpentry and rattan work | | Dolls crafted from Mai Mok Man | | Traditional designs | | Malaeng Thap beetle wings collage
Mother-of-pearl decoration | | Embroidery | | Artificial flowers | | Dressmaking | | Packaging | THE TRADITIONAL CRAFTS OF THE SUPPORT FOUNDATION
Please click to view Today, the SUPPORT Foundation has training centres and distribution outlets in all regions of the kingdom. ARTS OF THE KINGDOM V
By The SUPPORT Foundation's Chitralada Training Center
At the Ananta Samakom Throne Hall, Dusit Palace
10.00 - 20.00 hrs. (closed on Mondays)
Ticket sales from 10.00 - 19.00 hrs.
Ticket prices: 150 baht (75 baht for students)
Tel: +66 (0) 2283 9411, (0) 2283 9185
Dress code: Appropriate attire is required. No shorts or sleeveless tops. Skirts and Thai-style sarong for women. THE SUPPORT FOUNDATION OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN SIRIKIT OF THAILAND
Chitralada Palce, Rajvithi Road, Dusit, Bangkok 10303
Tel: +66 (0) 2283 9185
Fax: +66 (0) 2280 0338 | 
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