The Thai Cultural and Fine Arts Institute of Chicago

About Us

The Thai Cultural and Fine Arts Institute (TCFAI) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Thai culture and fine arts. Since 1995, TCFAI has provided various programming in the Chicagoland area to educate and entertain diverse audiences. The TCFAI community is open to youth, teens, adults, and families and welcomes people from all backgrounds.

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Every Saturday, TCFAI offers classes for anyone interested in learning more about Thailand and its vibrant culture. There are classes in Thai classical dance, music, and language for every age group and experience level. To further enrich the students' experience, mathematics tutoring sessions and other exciting classes (e.g. Thai crafts) are offered. Classes are taught in Thai and English by volunteers that are passionate about passing on the Thai culture. A main staple of the Thai culture is its delicious regional food and each week, members indulge in a free potluck.

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Many of the TCFAI members involved in the fine arts classes have multiple opportunities to perform publicly throughout the year. The group has performed in different venues, events, and festivals throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, and California. The performing troupe has also had residencies abroad at the Dramatic Arts College in Thailand and in partnership with the Royal Thai Consulate in Trinidad and Tobago. In addition, joint programs with Thailand's top performing arts schools and groups have given our members, once in a lifetime opportunities to learn, interact, and perform with renowned artists and teachers. 

With the growing number of American-born Thais, students from Thailand studying in the Chicagoland area, and overall interest/awareness of Thailand from popular culture, TCFAI has become an important resource in the preservation of Thailand's beautiful arts and culture to the City of Chicago and its surrounding areas and states.

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Currently, the institute runs on Saturdays from 11am-6pm and is located within the Buddhist Meditation Center in Willowbrook, IL (20 miles SW of Chicago).