The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC) is celebrating its 5th anniversary. Over the past 5 years, TAEC has established itself as an important resource for educating the public about Laos' ethnic diversity and cultures through its research, exhibitions, collection of over 400 artifacts from 30 ethnic groups, and educational outreach programs. TAEC has received praise and support from international partners, local communities, and the US Ambassador to Laos for its work in cultural preservation and advocacy.

1. The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre
FIVE
Years
2007 - 2012

3. TAEC is a wonderful resource that brings to light
the rich living heritage of Luang Prabang World
Heritage town. We greatly appreciate our work
with TAEC in the past, particularly on
documenting traditional children’s games in
northern Lao PDR.
- Montira Horayangura Unakul, UNESCO Bangkok

4. Advocacy & Livelihoods Collections
Development
Research
Education & Outreach Exhibitions

5. The Traditional Arts & Ethnology Center is a
more than a museum, it is a breathing and living
resource and research center dedicated to
educating the public about Laos’ ethnic
diversity, cultures and traditions. We so proud
of your achievements over the last five years
and we wish you even greater success in the
coming years.
- Shui Meng and the Saoban Team

7. Exhibitions
Splendour and Sacrifice From Courtship to Kinship
2 Temporary

8. I admire TAEC's dedication to outreach and
engagement with rural communities across Laos.
I also appreciate that TAEC doesn't believe that all
cultures should remain stagnant. They
understand that cultures are ever-changing, and
any given people reserve the right to adapt their
traditions, clothing, or practices.
- Gabriel Kuperman, Director, Luang Prabang Film Festival

10. Awarded the
Ambassador’s Fund
for Cultural
Preservation for
two research and
exhibition projects
7 permanent exhibits
1 off-site exhibit

12. Collections
Have over 400 artefacts from 30 different
ethnic groups, preserved for future generations
Locally appropriate international standard
cataloguing system and off-site collection
storage room
Collections staff trained in the
US, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam

14. TAEC is an incredible achievement and a valuable
cultural resource for Lao and humanity. The whole
TAEC team and vision is an inspiration and I feel
privileged to be able to contribute and learn
alongside them. Bravo!
- Jacinta Brown, Conservator

16. Public Programmes
Published the book, “Cultural Diversity in
Lao PDR: stories from the Traditional Arts
and Ethnology Centre” in 2012
Co-organised the Ethnic Cultural Festival
with the Department of Information and
Culture in 2010, a 3 day event of musical
performances, ethnic food and
handicrafts, children’s games, and
activities
Supported the Department of Information
and Culture in conserving and exhibiting
Buddhas in Vat Visoun with support from
the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural
Preservation
Hosted 4 ethnic youth interns for 3 weeks
in 2009

18. Happy five-year anniversary to all of our friends at
TAEC! We have greatly enjoyed working with you
and seeing the excellent work you have done to
educate people about the history and rich culture
of Laos’ ethnic minority groups. We wish you all
the best and look forward to many more years of
successful collaboration!
- Karen B. Stewart, U.S. Ambassador to Laos

20. Advocacy and Livelihoods
Development
Hosted community resource persons for 1 week
Member of Fair Trade Laos and Lao Handicraft Association
Performed concerted handicraft training to 10 villages

22. We decided to work together from then on and it
has been my privilege to assist them on numerous
research trips, and also spend time working with
them at their own home base in Luang Prabang. It
enriched my life and taught me a lot of the
background of the things I merely took pictures of. I
hope to continue working with them for a long time.
I wish them well for the next 5 years! I hope to
attend the 10 year anniversary, having to miss out on
this one.
- Kees Sprengers, Photographer

24. Research
Conducted major research project with UNESCO on Traditional
Children’s Games in 2010
Two staff trained in the Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre’s
Intangible Cultural Heritage Field School in Thailand
Have a Board of Advisors of 10 anthropologists and culture
experts

26. Congrats to Tara and the TAEC team! I am proud that
VFI was (minimally) involved with TAEC at the very
beginning and even more impressed with the high
quality, professional services of TAEC, on par with
museums one would see in western
countries. Whenever a friend or colleague heads to
Luang Prabang, I always highly recommend they visit
TAEC, and all are happily surprised with they find. A
true diamond in the rough that more people need to
know about!
- Rick Reece, Executive Director, Village Focus
International

29. TAEC has become one of the best if not the best
institutions dedicated to the preservation and
dissemination of knowledge regarding the diverse
peoples living in Laos. In just five years, it has
become internationally renowned. I am proud to be
part of the Centre.
- Dr. Linda McIntosh, TAEC Advisor and Textile
Specialist

31. Happy Anniversary TAEC! And enormous thanks for
sharing the extraordinary culture of the traditional
peoples of Laos with your visitors. Through your
thoughtful and creative displays and programs you
enrich all of our lives.
- Victoria Vorreiter, The Resonance Project

33. Tara & Khoun, over the last five years you have built
up with thoughtfulness, taste and dedicated work a
truly amazing place, I am looking forward to the next
five years and your next five shows!
- Rik Gadella, General Director, Pha Tad Ke