Hobart’s Mona to open Bangkok offshoot

The Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) in Hobart, Tasmania, and Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC) in Bangkok, Thailand, have announced they are working together to develop MONA Bangkok, a major new art destination on the banks of the Chao Phraya River.

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff joined Mona founder David Walsh, artist and curator Kirsha Kaechele, DarkLab CEO and creative director Leigh Carmichael and Mona executives in Bangkok for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with AWC, represented by Chief Executive Officer and President Wallapa Traisorat, and Chief Commercial Business Officer Michael Hariz.

The signing was also attended by Australian Ambassador-Designate to Thailand Pablo Kang, Thai Minister of Culture Sabeeda Thaised, Governor of Bangkok Chadchart Sittipunt and Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Thapanee Kiatphaibool.

The MOU outlines the shared vision for MONA Bangkok, which will bring together Mona’s extensive experience creating internationally acclaimed art, music and cultural destinations with AWC’s record of landmark developments in Thailand.

David Walsh, Mona’s founder, said: "Having spent most of the last 25 years studying how museums work, AWC has presented us with a remarkable opportunity to take what we’ve learned to one of the great tourist centres of the world."

Since opening in Hobart in 2011, Mona has been visited by over 5.2 million people. It has helped change visitors’ perception of Tasmania and turn Hobart into an international cultural destination, drawing audiences from across Australia and around the world through its idiosyncratic approach to exhibitions, festivals, architecture, and hospitality.

The MONA Bangkok project will be led on Mona’s side by Carmichael under the direction of Walsh, with assistance from a project team of skilled creatives.

Carmichael has worked with Walsh for over 20 years. Together they established the Mona brand, the Dark Mofo festival, and cultural precinct In The Hanging Garden.

“MONA Bangkok will take the creative spirit of Mona into a new context,” Carmichael said. “Like the museum in Hobart, it will be unconventional and unique, and will present work by leading international artists, while also creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue with Thai artists, audiences and cultural traditions.

“The theme of light will be explored both as a physical phenomenon and as a metaphor. Light has long been a source of fascination, reflection and hope across cultures, and it feels especially resonant in Bangkok, with its rich cultural life and traditions. I’m looking forward to listening, learning and seeing where this project leads as it develops.

“We look forward to working with AWC on this ambitious project, and to meeting with Thai artists, designers and makers as we begin the journey.

“Bangkok is already home to important contemporary art events and institutions including the Bangkok Art Biennale, MOCA Bangkok and the newly opened Dib Bangkok. MONA Bangkok is intended to build on this momentum, helping strengthen the city’s position as a global art destination.”

Traisorat said: "At AWC, Building a Better Future is at the heart of everything we do. This collaboration with Mona reflects the power of partnerships to create lasting cultural and economic value. 

"Together, we are building more than a new destination - we are creating a bridge between Thailand and Australia through a shared vision, a passion for art, a shared commitment to sustainable tourism and a belief in the power of culture to connect people.

“We are excited to welcome Mona to Bangkok to create a world-class cultural landmark that inspires creativity, fosters meaningful artist communities, and encourages more people to discover new experiences. By bringing together art, innovation and hospitality, MONA Bangkok will strengthen the creative industry and enhance Thailand as the leading global sustainable destination.”

Further details on the project will be announced in due course.

Image: An early rendering of MONA Bangkok. Courtesy Mona, AWC and Six Degrees Architects.

How to enjoy the Brest of France

Taking roads less travelled can be extremely rewarding. Nowhere more so than in France, where there are dozens of beautiful towns and villages that remain largely undiscovered.

One such destination is Brest in Brittany - and leisure airline easyJet is launching a new summer route from London Gatwick to Brest.

Flights start on June 25 and will operate twice weekly on Wednesdays and Sundays throughout the summer season, news portal Travel Mole reports.

Seats are now on sale at easyJet.com and via the mobile app.

The port city of Brest is a listed City of Art and History and boasts a strong maritime heritage.

Its unique attractions include an open-air aquarium, and the city is known for its Breton cuisine, including savoury pancakes known as galletes. The local soccer team this year made its debut in the European Champions League.  

Brest has a population of over 140,000 and its history has since the 17th century been linked to the sea. The Académie de Marine (Naval Academy) was founded in 1752 in the city.

Ali Gayward, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, said: “As London Gatwick’s largest airline, we are delighted to be launching yet another new route from London Gatwick, offering more choice and connectivity through our unrivalled short haul leisure network.”

Last year, easyjet celebrated carrying 250 million passengers to and from London Gatwick since launching its first flights in December 1999.

Is this the next Phuket or Krabi?

Never heard of Nakhon Si Thammarat and its emerging beach destination Sichon?

You are not alone.

Yet the unspoilt Nakhon Si Thammarat region in the south of Thailand - about 610km south of Bangkok on the east coast of the Malay Peninsula - could be the next Thai tourism hotspot.

Nakhon Si Thammarat International Airport opens next month and is set to spark a new era of tourism.

Overseas visitors will be able to fly straight to a coastal destination that is renowned for its pristine beaches, forests, mountainous areas and unpolluted air.

Thai tourism operators say sustainability will be key as this area opens up with ecotourism the focus.

The new state-of-the-art international passenger terminal cost $AU62.6 million and has capacity for four million passengers a year.

At present, three airlines - Nok Air, Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion Air - fly to Nakhon Si Thammarat, all from Bangkok. The opening of the new international terminal will begin a roll out of direct, scheduled flights from Asian markets including Singapore, China, Taiwan and Malaysia.

“It is a significant moment in the history of one of Thailand’s most compelling destinations,” said Ravi Chandran, former CEO of Laguna Phuket and executive director of Urasaya (below), a luxury beachfront development in Sichon.

“With the new terminal geared for international travellers offering direct access, it not only reaffirms the existing domestic access from Bangkok, just like better known destinations such as Phuket and Chiang Mai, but a future that will see an increase in tourism investment and higher visitor numbers.”

The project is a central component of Nakhon Si Thammarat’s strategy to attract a new generation of experience-seeking international travellers.

Ecotourism is a key sector for the province, which is home to 200km of mountain ranges and 200km of beaches.

I’m very excited about the opening of the airport,” said Sichon-native Benjapop Benjathammatorn, owner of Sichon Cabana Resort. “It will provide greatly improved access and an opportunity for international travellers to explore the active, healthy lifestyle we are focused providing across the destination.”

The launch of Nakhon Si Thammarat International Airport forms part of the Thai government’s Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) project, which aims to transform Thailand’s southern provinces into a major economic hub.

The new airport could soon be complemented by a road bridge to the popular island of Koh Samui, which is just a short distance offshore.

See https://urasaya.property