A B O U T_ U S

Background:

The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre was founded by Tara Gujadhur and Thongkhoun Soutthivilay, now the Co-Directors.  They recognised that Luang Prabang had become the centre of Laos’ Northern provinces, attracting tourists, traders, ethnic peoples, collectors, and researchers, but that the town lacked accessible information about Laos’ ethnic diversity.  Their goal was to promote understanding, appreciation, and preservation of Laos’ ethnic cultures.  With Tara’s experience in anthropology and tourism, and Khoun’s experience in exhibit design and artefact preservation, they decided to establish a private museum that could attract visitors and act as a clearinghouse for information and handicrafts. 

Together they began work on the Centre in early 2006, finding and renovating a heritage building, researching and working with ethnic communities, and building a collection.  Linda S. McIntosh, member of the TAEC Board of Advisors and Southeast Asian textile specialist, was also instrumental to the founding of the Centre.  The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre opened its doors on 5 July 2007. 

Future plans include temporary exhibits, establishment of a library and resource centre, further primary research, workshops with visiting artisans and indigenous knowledge experts, and specialised tours and study trips. 

TAEC’s Vision
To become a centre for learning and exchange on the ethnology and artisanal heritage of Laos that promotes appreciation for the cultures and skills of Laos’ peoples, stimulates investment and preservation of their crafts, and supports their sustainable livelihood development. 

TAEC’s 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

The Team

Directors

Tara Gujadhur was based at the Luang Prabang Provincial Tourism Office as a sustainable tourism advisor from 2004-2006, building up a considerable network of contacts in the tourism sector throughout the region.  Tara has a BA in Anthropology and an MSc in Tourism, Environment, and Development, and 7 years experience in sustainable tourism development, indigenous knowledge management, and community development throughout Southeast Asia and Southern Africa.  She worked with the Khasi in northeast India, the San (Bushmen) in Botswana, and has since spent a significant amount of time in rural villages in Laos conducting tourism surveys and developing community activities. 

Thongkhoun Soutthivilay
Born and raised in Luang Prabang, Khoun has been a tour guide, assistant Collection Manager, and now the Collection Manager at the Luang Phabang National Museum over the past 6 years.  She has studied and attended trainings in Thailand, the Netherlands, Japan, and Laos, including Museum Management, Conservation and Exhibition of Southeast Asian Collections, and Conservation of Textiles.  She was a resident at the Saitama Prefecture Museum in Japan from 2003-2004.  Khoun is also a photographer, and has been documenting Luang Prabang festivals and ceremonies for the past two years.

Collaborators

Linda S. Mclntosh
A member of TAEC’s Board of Advisors, Linda S. McIntosh is a Southeast Asian textile expert and has curated exhibitions and published numerous articles on Southeast Asian textiles, arts, history, and culture.  Her formal training in the study of Southeast Asian cultures began with a Master’s degree in Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is presently a Ph.D. candidate at Simon Fraser University, Canada, studying Lao textiles, and holds a certificate in Museum Studies from the University of Washington. Her publications include a manual on handicraft production in Laos. She is a consultant for museum collection management and textiles in Thailand and is presently on the Board of Directors of the Thai Textile Society. Linda is Lao-American and committed to preserving the indigenous handicrafts of Laos.

Philippe Coste
The photos featured in the TAEC exhibits were taken by Philippe Coste, a French national who has been living in Laos for 8 years as a medical professional and a photographer.  Philippe accompanied the TAEC research team on trips throughout the north of Laos, and has a wide range of experience in rural villages.  Philippe’s work has focused on portraits of ethnic people, Lao communities, working elephants, rice field landscapes, and more.  He has exhibited in France, Laos and Thailand and is currently based in Vientiane.

TAEC Board of Advisors

Name	Expertise/Position
Linda McIntosh	Southeast Asian textile expert. Board of Thai Textile Society. Museum Consultant, James H.W. Thompson Foundation.
Houmphanh Rattanavong	Ex-Director of the Institute for Cultural Research.
Bounkhong Khutthao	Deputy Director, Department of Information and Culture, Luang Prabang
Jacques Lemoine	Anthropologist of Yao and Hmong and expert on Taoist religious iconography of the Iu Mien and Mun. Advisor to the Ethnographic Databank Project in Laos
Prasit Leepreecha	Researcher and Coordinator, Center for Ethnic Studies and Development, Social Research Institute, Chiang Mai. Focus on Hmong and tourism.
Olivier Evrard	Researcher, Center for Ethnic Studies and Development, Social Research Institute, Chiang Mai and Institute de Recherche pour le Developpement. Focus on Khmu.
Michael Howard	Professor of International Studies, Simon Fraser University, BC, Canada. Focus on Tai groups and textiles.
Peter Koret	Lao Literature specialist, researcher on grant from Toyota Foundation.