Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC) via the Luang Prabang Fund for Culture and Conservation

About This Cause

Our Mission: To facilitate pride and investment in Laos' ethnic diversity and cultural resources by helping visitors and locals to understand and value the changing lifestyles of Laos' many ethnic groups, and providing an outlet for the development and selling of their handicrafts. Founding Principles and Information: The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre is a museum in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. It is the only independent non-profit museum and resource centre in Laos dedicated to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of the traditional arts and lifestyles of the country's many and diverse ethnic groups. TAEC features professional exhibitions on the ethnic cultures of Laos, a Museum Shop promoting handicrafts from village artisans, and Le Patio Cafe. To date, TAEC has welcomed over 55,000 Lao and international visitors, and has rapidly emerged as a regional leader in cultural heritage management and community development. TAEC is guided by a Board of Advisors, consisting of anthropologists and textile scholars. The Centre was founded by Tara Gujadhur and Thongkhoun Soutthivilay who now serve as Co-Directors. Tara Gujadhur is an American with an anthropology background and 13 years experience in indigenous community development and sustainable tourism in southern Africa and Southeast Asia. Thongkhoun Soutthivilay is a Luang Prabang native trained in Japan, the Netherlands, and Thailand who worked at the Luang Prabang National Museum for over 10 years as the Collection Manager and a conservator. Together they began work on TAEC in 2006, building a collection, researching and working with ethnic communities, and curating the permanent exhibitions. The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre was launched on 5 July 2007.