Press Conference on the 5th Art of Kingdom Exhibition On Monday, April 28, 2008 at Chitralada Villa, H.E. Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat, Minister of Tourism and Sports, together with executives from the private sector and the SUPPORT Foundation of Her Majesty the Queen, presided over the Press Conference on the 5th Art of Kingdom Exhibition. The objective of this exhibition is to promote the masterpiece of SUPPORT’s handicrafts like silverware, nielloware and lacquer ware which were once produced only in artisan’s homes. Today, these traditional skills, some of which are about to disappear, are being gradually expanded to non-artisans, especially in rural areas. A success of this restoration is that the SUPPORT (the Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques), founded by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, provides sufficient training to Thai farmers to produce high – quality crafts which, in return, was enabled local people to earn extra incomes during harvest seasons or draught seasons. The SUPPORT has also set up numerous projects and retail outlets throughout the country. Her Majesty Queen has paid a number of visits to abroad to promote the SUPPORT’s handicrafts to the world market. This exhibition is the cooperation between The SUPPORT Foundation of Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and private sector in tourism industry.
