CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, CHA-TRI DRAMA TO THE LEARNING CENTRE OF LOCAL WISDOM, ANG THONG PROVINCE

Abstract

This research aims to examine the cultural resource management processes in the Chatri drama of Ang Thong province by the participation of local community, to propose the guidelines for developing the local wisdom learning center of the Ang Thong province Chatri drama in digital era. This study is a research and development under an implementation of learning method by practices and participatory research, divided into 3 phases: (1) interviewing community members; (2) participatory observation with community members; and (3) group discussion. The research tools consist of in-depth interview questions and participatory observation. Data were collected from the head of a Chatri drama troupe, the head of Thai Orchestra (a Piphat band), costume crafters, performance instruments crafters, performance artists and musicians, and stakeholders in the promotion and support for the local arts and cultures. Data analysis conducted by content analysis.

The findings revealed that cultural resource management can be divided into 8 procedures including 1) Study and exploration of cultural resources; 2) Valuation and potential of cultural resources; 3) Preservation; 4) Development; 5) Information dissemination; 6) Mutual agreement making; 7) Application and extension; and 8) Collaborative networking. It is noteworthy that the arts and cultures of Chatri drama in Wiset Chaichan district have been modified because new generation artists modify performance style with the contexts of modern society, local wisdom of traditional customs and patterns are still preserved and utilized as the capital in the inheritance, maintenance, and development of the arts in the digital society by various digital tools on different social media platforms. Through participatory working processes leading to generate values benefiting the local community and the wider society in various aspects and expand arts and culture in an economic way towards sustainability with support from relevant government agencies by participation, expressing interest, and funding the activities, and by allocating common space to facilitate activity organizing and publicizing local arts and culture. Moreover, a memorandum of academic cooperation is documented and signed between educational institutions and the local community, as well as assistance is given to the art performers and musicians affected during the pandemic situation in Thailand, leading to more awareness and appreciation of the arts and culture of local Chatri drama, thus creating a new performance troupe named "the Chara Chatri drama troupe" (the Senior Chatri drama troupe) by the grouping of elderly artists in the community to be immune toward the changes, to be self-reliant, and to be proud of oneself, raising the awareness of self-worth and for the community to engage in the preservation and development of the Chatri drama toward the creation of learning center of local wisdom to disseminate the knowledge into the larger society.