Bangkok Art and Culture Centre Director Dismissed Amid Political Funding Dispute

Pawit Mahasarinand, director of Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), was dismissed by the institution's board on September 24, 2019. In a letter to journalists, Mahasarinand claimed his firing was politically motivated due to his public criticism of funding cuts by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. The local government has withheld its annual subsidy for two consecutive years, leading to accusations that the independent center is being deliberately defunded. According to Mahasarinand's account, one board member cited his rebuke of city hall executives regarding budget reductions as justification for termination. The newly appointed foundation board overseeing BACC offered him an incentive to resign rather than face dismissal, which he refused. Mahasarinand stated he would leave his position the following week. The board has not publicly responded to his allegations. Despite the foundation's supposed independence, Mahasarinand asserts board members are ultimately accountable to the government.