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TAEC’s mission is to facilitate pride in Laos’ ethnic diversity and to help visitors and locals to understand and value the changing lifestyles of Laos’ ethnic groups. TAEC pursues this through its museum exhibits and education activities, but instilling pride within ethnic communities and empowering them to actively manage their cultural heritage is crucial to ensuring cultural vitality and sustainable development.

TAEC works to advocate for the changing needs of ethnic minority communities throughout Laos. The Centre has undertaken cultural mapping exercises, such as with the Hmong community of Ban Na Ouane, and provided advice and training on best practice for heritage management. The Centre also works with local businesses to facilitate mutually beneficial partnerships with ethnic minority communities.

Recognising that rural ethnic communities are amongst Laos’ poorest populations, the Centre also runs a comprehensive livelihoods development program, supporting ethnic artisans to earn income using their traditional handicraft skills. Currently, the program supports supplementary livelihoods for over 500 handicrafts producers and their families, primarily women, in 12 provinces of Laos. Handicrafts produced through the programme are sold through the TAEC Museum Shop according to fair-trade principles.