A part of the Wat Arun Preservation Project, the Wat Arun Festival
was organised to raise funds to help preserve Wat Arun as an important
national historical site. The project is in cooperation with the
Fine Arts Department, which extends invaluable support and assistance
to this particular undertaking. Project advisers include Master
Artist Chakrabhand Posayakrit, Professor Dr. Suraphol Wirunrak
and Master Chulathas Phayakranond.
The first Wat Arun Festival was staged in November 2000, with
the aim to revive the popularity of the long-lost forms of Thai
classical performing arts, such as the Royal Puppet and Khon Chak
Rok. The festival also featured a rare display of fine Thai handicrafts
and Thai desserts. The second Wat Arun Festival, held the following
year, presented, through a variety of performances, the relationship
between Thailand and China, as well as the Chinese influences
on Thai arts and culture.
The Wat Arun Preservation project is currently directly involved
in the creation of the project web site www.watarun.org, apart
from doing such activities as helping build toilets in the temple
and promoting the "We Love Wat Arun Project".
