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TAEC Newsletter, April 2013
Newsletter, April 2013

Luang Prabang is heating up and TAEC is looking forward to transitioning to our low season activities. We celebrated Pi Mai, the Lao New Year, last week with elephant processions, a city-wide water fight, and time off to spend with family and friends. Tara presented at the Lao Studies Conference, and Khoun participated in the Vietnam Lifestyle trade fair.

For those of you in Vientiane, TAEC will be giving a talk on Tuesday, 14 May from 5:45 - 7:45 pm at Monument Books, hosted by the Women's International Group.  The talk is entitled "From Courtship to Kinship" focusing on the wedding traditions of Laos' ethnic groups, but will also go into some of TAEC's history and future projects.  Please come by to meet the TAEC Directors and learn more about this fascinating topic and our work! 

 Read on for more details!
Upcoming Katu Exhibition - Field Trip and Preparations
In September, TAEC will be opening a new exhibit highlighting the Katu ethnic group from southern Laos and the central highlands of Vietnam.  The Katu are famous for their impressive thatched community meeting houses, wood carvings, and buffalo sacrifices.  The TAEC Museum Shop already sells Katu backstrap loom textiles, but we are looking forward to introducing their culture to our visitors through an exhibit featuring archival photographs, basketry, jewellery, and video. 
 
In mid-March, a team travelled to Xekong to collect information and artefacts for the upcoming exhibition.  Among other things, they interviewed elders about the Katu creation story, shot footage of women’s daily life, and learned more about the changes Katu communities are undergoing. 
 
 
Dr. Khampheng and Dr. McIntosh interviewing Katu village  headman.
  Katu statues. The two on either side of the pole represent the ancestors to the Katu people.
This project has been supported by the US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, and is a partnership with the University of Gothenburg, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, and Lao Institute for Social Sciences.
New Handicraft Workshops!
Have you ever wanted to learn how to embroider like a Hmong woman, or try your hand at Kmhmu bamboo weaving?  TAEC is now offering half-day workshops for you!  These fun activities are taught by Hmong and Kmhmu artisans, and include a tour of the TAEC exhibits, all materials, and an ethnic food lunch in Le Patio Café.  Depending on group size, prices start at just $23 per person, and you take your handicraft home with you.  E-mail bookings@taeclaos.org for details.

 
Guests learning bamboo weaving.   Hmong women leading a traditional Hmong embroidery workshop.
Free Monthly Events
TAEC is now offering free events every month, including tours, talks, and hands-on activities.  The first and third Friday of every month we have free tours guided by TAEC staff, and on the 15th of each month we offer free Director’s Tours.  Both happen at 3pm.  This is a great opportunity for individuals or small groups to be able to experience a full tour of the exhibitions! 
 
On Friday, 24 May, a Buddhist day, we will have a free flower stupa-making activity in Le Patio Café from 2 – 5pm.  All are welcome!
 
Participants and instructors at TAEC's last flower stupa-making workshop.
TAEC Promotional Video, 2013-14 Price List, and Open House
TAEC is always looking to expand its marketing toolbox and we are pleased to present to you a new promo video we plan to use with tour companies.  

Through Animoto, a user-friendly web-based tool, we look forward to being more creative in highlighting TAEC activities and events and in school outreach.  Stay on the lookout for more digital projects from us!
 
First up, we'll show the video at our summer Open Houses, events to encourage hotel, restaurant, and guesthouse staff to explore TAEC!  The first will be on Friday, 17 May, from 12 – 3pm. The Open House will feature tours, ethnic snacks from Le Patio Café, and prizes. 
 
Finally, our new 2013-2014 price list is out!  After six years of business, we will finally raise our entry price to 25,000, starting in October 2013.  Lao visitors are still free!  All other rates have remained the same.  For a full list of prices and services, please contact bookings@taeclaos.org.

Summer Children's Activity
School may be out soon but the opportunity to learn about Lao ethnic diversity continues!  We are in the process of planning a short summer programme for local Lao school children filled with fun games, cultural field trips, hands-on craft workshops, and a Do-It-Yourself children’s museum. More details to come!

To support this and other outreach activities, click here.
  Children at Children's Cultural Centre identify ethnic groups during a TAEC activity this fall.
Lao Studies Conference
The Lao Studies Conference was a success!  Tara presented at a well-attended panel entitled "Culture and Change: Recent Studies on the Peoples of Laos" organised by TAEC and Dr. Linda McIntosh.  We screened two TAEC films at the event and through selling our book and village handicrafts we raised the profile of TAEC among Lao Studies scholars, diaspora organisations, and universities.


TAEC's table at the Lao Studies Conference.
Participation in conferences is an integral part of our research programme.  With your continued support, we hope to continue sharing  the exciting work we are doing in Laos!


TAEC Volunteer (and Tara's mother) Rita, Tara,
and Linda at the Lao Studies Conference
How to Help
Are you a graphic designer?  This summer, TAEC is looking for someone to help design the Katu exhibition materials.  This is a great way to learn about the Katu ethnic group, and support our work in a very concrete way!  Contact information@taeclaos.org by the end of May 15, 2013.
 
Many of our visitors find us through TripAdvisor.  If you enjoyed your visit with us let other travelers know!  TripAdvisor reviews help us improve our visibility, which increases the number of visitors we get which equals more programmes to support Lao diversity!  Please take a moment to write about your experience here.


 
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