The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre in Ban Khamyong, Luang Prabang province, Laos (TAEC) is a non-government museum that relies on ticket and shop sales to keep its doors open. Grants and donations allow us to undertake significant research, conservation and education projects.
Here in Laos, public cultural institutions and academia are in their infancy. The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre was founded to promote understanding of Laos’ ethnic diversity and advocate for the survival and transmission of its cultural traditions. Now is a critical time, as Laos undergoes rapid modernisation and economic development.
TAEC believes in supporting not just cultural traditions, but sustainable livelihoods for rural ethnic minorities. When TAEC visits communities for research, we not only ask questions about culture, but about village income levels, development issues, and education.
TAEC maintains a small village fund to provide learning materials, health supplies, and emergency financial support to vulnerable source communities and community members.
While in Luang Namtha, Salavan, Attapeu, and Champassak provinces for handicrafts work in early 2012, TAEC distributed eyeglasses (important for older women who have spent years on detailed embroidery or weaving work!) and children’s books from Big Brother Mouse.
- With US$50, we can provide a community with a new stock of basic medicines for their village health cabinet.
- With US$100, we can provide 10 pairs of eyeglasses for older women embroiderers and weavers who suffer from poor eyesight.
- With US$125, we can buy and distribute 100 children’s books from Big Brother Mouse in our partner villages.
- With US$300, we can provide a loan to artisans to invest in materials and equipment to produce handicrafts to sell.
- With US$1,200, we can visit a new community to provide training and set up handicraft production based on traditional skills.
To learn more or to donate, please visit our webpage.
