Eight Chonburi residents were honored for being outstanding artists and working to further Thai culture.
Gov. Pakarathorn Thienchai presented honorary shields to the three artists and six bureaucrats and community leaders at the April 11-19 opening of the province’s Phra Phuttha Sihing Fair and Chonburi Songkran Festival at the provincial hall.
Samart Theingpoonwong, director of the Chonburi Cultural Office, said the awards have been presented since 1983 and were funded by the Office of the National Culture Commission until 2009. The province then took over funding to continue the program and, to date, has honored 138 people.
This year, outstanding artist awards went to photographer Sombat Ketkaew for work in visual arts, musician Laeid Kodchawat for performing arts and actor Prapim Eakapoj for local performing arts.
Those honored for work to preserve and further Thai culture were Nongprue Mayor Mai Chaiyanit, Sompong Samart for folk wisdom in agriculture, Nakorn Worarat for folk wisdom in welfare management and community business, Natcha Chaokrajang for folk wisdom in manufacturing, and monk Rachasitthiwimol, advisor to the ecclesiastical provincial governor and abbot of Yai Intharam Temple, for his work in humanities.
Pakarathorn praised the eight for carrying on local wisdoms and passing it on to future generations, giving their communities long-lasting and sustainable cultural identities.
