URP is an academic collaboration and exchange program between Osaka City University, Japan and Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Thailand that focuses on topics related to urban culture in the areas of artistic expression, management, cultural preservation, documentation, and education.

When the Urban Research Plaza (URP) was founded in 2001 it was originally named The Urban Culture Research Center (UCRC) and later changed to its current name in 2006. URP is under the co-directorship of Dr. Shin Nakagawa, Japan and Dr. Bussakorn Binson, Thailand.

The annual URP Forum which began in 2001, has been supported since 2012 by Chulalongkorn University’s Center of Excellence for Thai Music and Culture – CETMC. It creates a sharing space for scholars, researchers, graduate students, artists involved in visual art, design, music, the creative arts, performance studies, dance, cultural studies, ethnomusicology, and related disciplines such as creative arts therapies and urban planning seeking cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural practices aimed at fostering the sustainable development of vibrant, livable cities and the promotion of cultural continuity. Presentations tied to either the academic or wide vernacular interpretation of urban culture and the arts as a tool promoting community and individual well-being, health, and diversity are welcome.

The Urban Research Plaza (URP) is jointly administered by the Graduate School of Literature and Human Sciences of Osaka City University, Osaka and the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts of Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, and has established academic exchange agreements with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, Huadong Shifan University of Shanghai, the University of London, England, the University of Hamburg, Germany, Gadjah Mada University and the Institut Seni Indonesia in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.