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The long-awaited Bt500-million centre was opened with the "Always Roaming with a Hungry Heart" exhibition of photos taken by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn last July, just before former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin, who authorised the construction of this project, had to step down. The BMA then co-hosted two major shows: the Bt20-million "Traces of the Siamese Smile: Art+Faith+Politics+Love" got up with the Ministry of Culture's Office of Contemporary Art and Culture (OCAC), followed by the equally expensive "Krungthep 226" depicting the capital's history to celebrate its 226th anniversary. Both OCAC and independent curators of the shows had to advance the money, and they have still not been paid back.

BACC is only place where free art space is provided for BMA schools, art institutes, the Thai film Foundation and international institutions such as the Alliance Française, the British Council, the Goethe Institute and foreign embassies. Most of these fund their own exhibitions, using BACC's expertise in putting them together.

As I wait to hear something more definite about the centre's management, I wonder why I have received an invitation to "Launching Bangkok Art and Culture" hosted by Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra at 11am on Monday.

Another launch? Does the art centre need to be launched and relaunched for each and every new governor?

At this "launch", the governor will be telling us about the exhibition being put on to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen's 77th birthday next month. Thanphuying Jarungkit Teekara and ML Piyapas Bhirombhakdi will be telling us about the exhibition of costumes for Khon Prommart, the traditional mask dance. PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey will be talking about the ministry's part in this project, while national artist Preecha Thaothong will share his experiences as one of the founders of the centre.

According to Chatvichai, the centre will be officially launched with an exhibition on the seventh, eighth and ninth floors. The seventh floor will exhibit art on the theme of motherhood, the eighth will host khon costumes, while the ninth will feature "The Art of Iconography", highlighting His Majesty's portraits, photos, coins and banknotes.

Her Majesty will cut the ribbon on August 19 for the show, which will run from August 11 to October 11.

Though Sukhumbhand's agenda was just promoting the exhibitions, Chatvichai revealed that the BMA was planning to create a new non-profit body called the Art and Culture Centre Foundation to run the centre. This foundation will be free of the BMA and politicians and instead be run by artists, culture experts and academics. Chatvichai said it should be in place in the next two or three months. Hopefully it will take no longer, because the centre badly needs to be put on the right track.

The centre is already a year old, and though the upcoming exhibitions showcasing the Kingdom's heritage are quite interesting, they will only last for a couple of months. What comes after that?

Besides, the exhibitions held last year proved how just unprofessional the management is.

To survive, this centre located in the centre of the City of Angels, needs the "right" person.

There's no time to play politics. It has already taken a decade and three Bangkok governors - Bhichit Rattakul, Samak Sundaravej and Apirak - for this centre to materialise, and taxpayers are waiting to make use of it.

Hopefully this will happen during Sukhumbhand's term, because, really, three years should be more than enough to sort things out.