NRCT to Bring the British Museum’s Expertise to Thailand in 2026 to Advance Research and Innovation in History, Art, and Museum Studies
15 May 2026
NRCT to Bring the British Museum’s Expertise to Thailand in 2026 to Advance Research and Innovation in History, Art, and Museum Studies
On 14 May 2026, the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), in collaboration with the Thai Arts and Crafts Development Association (TACDA), announced plans to bring the expertise of the British Museum to Thailand in support of research and innovation in history, art, and museum studies. The initiative aims to strengthen Thailand’s capabilities in contemporary gallery development and museum practices. The discussion took place at the British Museum in London, United Kingdom, during NRCT’s participation in the internationally renowned London Craft Week 2026.
Dr. Wiparat De-Ong, Executive Director of NRCT, stated that the British Museum is a world-leading institution renowned for its research excellence in history, archaeology, art history, and numerous other academic disciplines, as well as for its outstanding presentation of knowledge through museum exhibitions and public engagement. NRCT is committed to promoting research and innovation in Thailand’s historical and artistic fields by learning from the British Museum’s expertise and applying these insights to the development of contemporary galleries and museums in Thailand.
As part of this initiative, NRCT plans to organize workshops and hybrid academic seminars focusing on Curatorial Practice and Thai Collections in the British Museum. These activities will provide a platform for knowledge exchange among researchers, curators, museum professionals, and cultural networks from Thailand and abroad. The program will also promote learning in heritage conservation and contemporary approaches to cultural communication, making cultural heritage more accessible and meaningful to Thai audiences at all levels.
To support the implementation of the initiative, Dr. Wiparat assigned Ms. Sirinporn Deawtrakool, Deputy Executive Director of NRCT, together with the NRCT team, to coordinate preparations for the planned activities scheduled for 2026.
Dr. Alexandra Green, Curator of Southeast Asia at the British Museum, and Associate Professor Dr. Namfon Laistrooglai, researcher at TACDA, expressed their commitment to jointly developing an implementation framework under NRCT’s support for advancing research and innovation in Thailand’s historical and artistic disciplines. Dr. Green further noted that she plans to visit Thailand to conduct site surveys, undertake field studies, and collaborate with Thai experts in selecting exhibition objects, as well as carrying out research and data collection.
The initial phase of the project will focus on the study of Thai traditional crafts and artisanal knowledge, which represent important elements of Thailand’s cultural heritage and embody distinctive local identities and profound socio-cultural values.
This collaboration between NRCT and the British Museum marks a significant step forward in strengthening international research networks in history, art history, museum studies, and cultural heritage. Through this initiative, NRCT seeks to serve as a key platform for connecting knowledge, researchers, and leading cultural institutions worldwide, thereby enhancing the standards of Thai research and supporting the use of cultural capital as a driver of the country’s creative economy and sustainable development.
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by: National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT)
