Once again the country's much-revered monarchy proved to be the staying power that steered the nation away from imminent danger.

Whenever Thailand faces a political crisis, people look to the monarchy to come to their rescue.

While the tanks rolled on Bangkok's streets, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the royal Thai culture ambassador, was performing her duty of promoting Thai arts and culture at the "Tout a Fait Thai" festival in Paris.

The arrival of the first-ever Thai arts festival in Paris aimed to commemorate the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne and to celebrate the 320-year relationship between Thailand and France, which began way back in the Ayutthaya period.

Nearly 200 artists, both contemporary and classical, and their assistants participated in the Bt60-million project. It was the biggest and most expensive Thai festival ever held in Paris.

The Chateau de Versailles hosted a traditional Thai mask dance ("khon") troupe from the Fine Arts Department, puppeteers from the Joe Louis Theatre and a Thai orchestra. On September 19 (one day after the coup in Bangkok) the princess impressively performed classical Thai music at the Guimet Museum, which houses the largest collection of Asian art outside Asia.

The French-speaking princess also led a delegation of several ministers to the "Totally Thai" festival in Paris.

Traditional Thai art and food are already popular among the French people. But this festival has opened a welcome new chapter for Thai contemporary art on the international scene.

The Contemporary Art and Culture Office - promoting visual art, experimental cinema and music - has heralded a new international era for Thai art. More than 40 leading and emerging contemporary Thai artists, filmmakers and musicians shared innovative ideas about the contemporary arts scene at a number of prestigious venues around Paris, including the Pompidou Centre and the Palais de Tokyo.

This Thai cultural event in Paris followed February's visit to Thailand by French President Jacques Chirac, who brought a delegation of business leaders to Bangkok, where then-Prime Minister Thaksin attempted to strengthen relations with Chirac in political, economical and cultural areas.

Early this month Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari participated in the Paris Fashion Week, where she had a chance to meet world-class designers.

With the princess's interest in fashion, the French government has invited her to present her fashion collection next July. The Princess is following in the footsteps of her grandmother, Her Majesty the Queen, who has been promoting Thai fashion - especially Thai silk - in Paris for decades. The French designer Pierre Balmain has made many of the Queen's outfits.

The interim government led by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has given rise to an uncertain political and economic situation in Thailand. According to French government officials in Paris, further developments in French-Thai political and economic bilateral relations will have to be put on hold for the time being.

Close monitoring of the situation regarding Thai democracy will be the norm for a while, until Thailand is more politically stability.

But cultural relations still continue. Take the royal visit as a good case. Networking with individual artists and art institutes in Paris provides other good feedback. We don't know if such a huge event as the "Tout a Fait Thai" festival will ever happen again, as its organisation was based on personal connections in high places.

Instead of relying solely on the patronage of the high and mighty, perhaps we should pursue another track by building on this kind of networking among artists and institutions.

We should take art and culture out of the political sphere and promote a more spontaneous and organic growth - the way it should be.

Phatarawadee Phataranawik