Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) is expanding internationally with the announcement of Mona Bangkok. According to reports from The Art Newspaper and Pulse, Mona has signed an agreement with Thai real estate developer Asset World Corporation (AWC) to establish a new art museum on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in the Thai capital.
The announcement was made in Bangkok, attended by Mona founder David Walsh, DarkLab chief executive Leigh Carmichael, and Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Under the 15-year agreement, AWC will own and operate the museum, while Mona will be responsible for the architecture, curation, and exhibition design.
DarkLab CEO Leigh Carmichael, who will lead the project for Mona, stated the new museum will not be a replica of the Hobart institution but will take its creative spirit into a new context. He also noted that light will be a central theme for the new museum, both physically and metaphorically.
Premier Rockliff described the partnership as a “defining moment for Tasmania’s cultural and economic future,” placing the state at the forefront of the global cultural landscape. While a full timeline has not been set, the project is aiming for a potential opening in 2029.