The Thailand Festival of the Arts 1997, held from January 12-26 in the beautiful and authentic Thai setting of Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University was Thailand's first ever International Arts Festival featuring some of the world's finest classical, jazz, ethnic and cross-cultural music and dance performances.

Celebrities such as CHICO and the Gypsies (formerly the Gipsy Kings), Nina Corti, Ravi Shankar, the Vienna Mozart Trio, Kangsadan-Yok Rop & Boy Thai, the South German Youth Jazz Orchestra and celebrated Chinese Pianist Xiang Dong Kong set the foundation for the future of Thailand’s performing arts scene.

The festival has since served as a guideline for similar events and, as many remember, remains one of the most memorable arts events in Thailand.