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Jim Thompson Farm invites visitors to an eco-cultural tour and
opens the first Isan Film Festival in Thailand
From December 18, 2010 to January 9, 2011 at Jim Thompson Farm in
Pak Thong Chai, Nakhon Ratchasima

An experience of ecological farming is open to visitors again at Jim Thompson Farm. Visitors can expect to be amid an impressive array of flowers, fruits, and vegetable in an eco-cultural tour that also introduce them to the life cycle of silkworm, silk fabric production, and traditional Isan way of life as well as the local art and culture. In addition, the farm tour also offers a great chance to try delicious Isan dishes and appreciate the works of renowned artists under Art Centre on Farm project. Open to visitors from December 18, 2010 to January 9, 2011, the farm tour this year also highlights Thailand’s first Isan Film Festival.

Jim Thompson has over the past twelve years assumed a role in preserving the cultural heritage of Isan people and showing this invaluable asset to fellow countrymen and foreigners. In an effort to build awareness and appreciation of beautiful Isan culture and traditions, Jim Thompson Farm in Pak Thong Chai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, was opened as an eco cultural tourist attraction with an objective to promote the local culture and Isan way of life.

Last year, Jim Thompson Farm launched the Art on Farm initiative under management of Jim Thompson Art Centre. The pilot project is an art exhibition in the context of ecoagriculture and local Isan architecture with an intention to merge art, life, and nature as one. Under this project, invited artists work in the surroundings of nature and use local and recycled materials in the creation of their art pieces. Their works are exhibited at tourist stops within Jim Thompson Farm for visitors to appreciate art in relation to the environment, nature, and ecosystem. The initiative seeks to build a foundation for development of an art project with reference to learning resources and an activity-based educational project that involve workshops with artists and activity leaders. With this project, the organizers hope to spur imagination and creativity of both local and non-local visitors and make the project part of a lifelong process of learning.

According to Gridthiya Gaweewong, Artistic Director of Jim Thompson Art Centre, the Art Centre on Farm program this year highlights the first Isan Film Festival in Thailand. The festival brings together selected films about Isan people as well as exiled Isan and rural people, providing a ground for farm visitors and local people to share experiences as they enjoy the stories told. The films will be screened during the daytime from December 18, 2010 until January 9, 2011 in Hor Jaek at Isan Village within Jim Thompson Farm.

To let visitors enjoy the ambience of nature, local way of life, and culture, the Jim Thompson Farm Tour this year features four tourist stops as follows:

Stop 1 - Field of Sunn Hemp and Hanging Garden
Stop 2 – Fields of Sunflowers and Pumpkin Yard
Stop 3 – Isan Village and Artist in residency
Stop 4 – Flower Garden and Jim Thompson Market

Have a plan set to spend your day in the natural, traditional Isan ambience at Jim Thompson Farm in Takob Sub-district, Pak Thong Chai Districk, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The farm tour is open from today until January 9, 2011, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission is 80 baht for adults and 50 baht for children. For more information, please call 0-2762-2566, 085-660-7336, 044-373-116, e-mail farmtour@jimthompson.com, or visit www.jimthompsonfarm.com.