Songkhla Old Town: The Multicultural Capital in Creative Arts to Enhance Community Economy

Abstract

The purposes of this research are; 1) to develop Songkhla old town cultural map and cooperation plan 2) to develop the cultural product, cultural service and cultural space from cultural map data through the participatory process 3) to develop the entrepreneurs, community enterprise and to create value from Songkhla old town cultural capital and 4) to create arts and culture knowledge base including promoting cultural knowledge management for Songkhla old town. The sample groups consisted of 40 community leaders and entrepreneurs, 100 tourists and 644 samples on Social Return on Investment evaluation.

The research tools were 1) the cultural identity and community need survey forms, the interview forms of stakeholders and entrepreneurs in Songkhla old town 2) Songkhla old town tourists’ questionnaires 3) experts evaluation forms and 4) the evaluation forms of community economics, social and environment including a partnerships’ satisfaction on creative works. The research found that 1) the development of the Songkhla old town cultural map and cooperation plan had surveyed and categorized cultures in the Songkhla old town area with the cooperation from the community network and 124 cultural lists were pinned on the cultural map 2) the data from a cultural map were developed to be cultural products, cultural services and cultural spaces through 12 activities with community participation 3) the cooperation with entrepreneurs in the community to develop prototype products and conduct the market testing 4) developing website “สงขลาเข้าท่า.com” (songkhlakaotha.com) which including cultural map data, cultural products data, entrepreneurs and shops data, video, cultural data sources and news and activities in Songkhla old town area. Moreover, the researchers can further develop 59 cultural products and services using cultural map data and all these products and services are useful for local entrepreneurs and community economics.