Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre — Attraction in Luang Prabang

Located in Khamyoung village, the way to go just beside Dara Market. Preserving Cultural Diversity in Laos. Opened in 2007 in a historic house at the foot of Phousy Hill, the museum at the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC) presents engaging exhibitions and special projects that offer a rare and fascinating insight into the diversity and richness of Laos ethnic cultures. From the perspectives of ethnic minority women, this exhibition shares the lives of women in Laos today. With photographs, documentary videos, and objects the exhibition explores themes of work, family, health, heritage and handicrafts as recorded by girls and women in Northern Laos. Over a two year period as part of the Stitching Our Stories (SOS) project, young women from Hmong and Tai Lue communities in Luang Prabang learned to use digital media to record and reflect upon their lives in a rapidly changing Laos. From this collection of photographs, video clips, and interviews, TAEC and the international arts programme, PhotoForward, developed the Caregivers to Culture Keepers exhibition. Community Researchers were integral in framing the exhibition themes, and along with the SOS participants provided the content for the exhibition. Seven short videos present interviews with women in the Hmong and Tai Lue communities on varied topics including a Hmong medicine woman, early childcare in Laos, Hmong batik, Tai Lue weaving, Shamans, and Hmong embroidery, A part of the exhibition, the videos provide a more in-depth look into the lives of women in Laos today. Permanent Exhibitions Two rooms of displays showcase the Akha, Hmong, Tai Lue, and Kmhmu people in Laos and feature traditional handmade clothing and textiles, jewellery, handicraft and household tools, reconstructions of domestic scenes, and religious artefacts. All exhibitions are presented in Lao and English. Translations are available in French, German, Spanish, and Japanese. Collection, Library and Research TAEC maintains a collection of ethnic minority artefacts and a small library on the ethnic groups of Laos. Special projects of TAEC contribute to a growing body of documentation about the diverse cultures found in Laos and include books, short videos, and exhibitions. Open daily 09:00am – 18:00pm From: Tuesday to Sunday (Close on Monday) Tickets: 25.000k/person (under age of 12 years old...

Small space, but a refreshing take on the traditional ethnographic museum.

As an anthropologist, I often find myself cringing at exhibits in museums and cultural centres. Here, I was pleasantly surprised to see the care with which the curators, exhibition designers, and staff presented the various artifacts. Despite being labeled a “traditional arts and ethnology centre,” the idea of “tradition” was dealt with in a nuanced way. The wall text at the entrance to a special ethnomusicological exhibit explicitly stated a core tenet of contemporary anthropology: the displayed cultural objects exist in the present, as do the people who use them. They are not part of a timeless past just because they are traditional.

Overall, I appreciated the way the exhibits - and the guide for the afternoon museum tour I attended - were respectful of the subject matter and the lives behind the objects. I found the museum informative about cultural practices and ways of life, and honest about the impacts of modern life on Laos’ various ethnic groups.

In addition to two small gallery spaces, the venue also had an event/activity space at the back of the building, where I was able to attend an informative (if somewhat technical) talk about local and regional...

Very well thought out museum. Small but with good information on the ethnic groups in Laos. Joined the free tour that runs every Tuesday and Friday at 3pm. Detailed explanation by Ton the manager who gave us small insights into the lives of the ethnic groups. The display in the exhibition hall changes every 2 years. Currently it houses a display about how some international designers and brands misappropriate traditional cultural and ethnic clothes and wear around the world with their designs without consulting these minority groups and what actions were taken to counter them. After the exhibits, there is a lovely shop where you can purchase items made by the ethnic groups. There is also a cafe at the back with an activity center where you can dress up in traditional wear and take photos, do some loom or weaving activity free of charge. Tickets cost 35,000 kip. Lao citizens and children aged 12 and below enter free. Excellent rainy...