Luang Prabang, the former royal capital of Laos, has long been a center of traditional arts and handicrafts. PROJECT COMPONENTS
1.
ໂຄງການປະສົມປະສານ ບ່ອນທີ່ຮຽນຮູ້ ສິລະປະ ແລະ ວັດທະນະທຳ
PASOM PASAN CENTER, a place that you can learn Arts and Crafts 🧑🏻🎨
ເປີດໃຫ້ບໍລິການໃນປີ 2025 ທີ່ບ້ານວັດໜອງ
Opened in 2025 at Ban Vat Nong These artistic traditions, deeply rooted in local culture, are facing a decline due to changing times, the diminishing number of artisans, and a lack of continuity in the transmission of skills. Despite a strong
interest from both locals and tourists in authentic Lao cultural products, traditional production methods are struggling to keep pace. The PASOM PASAN project aims to create a dedicated space for the revitalization and preservation of traditional arts and handicrafts. Through skills training, collaborative production, and cultural exchange, the initiative will support young Lao people in reconnecting with their heritage while exploring creative new paths forward. In 2025, the PASOM PASAN project will launch its activities within the Children’s Cultural Center (CCC). Operating under the CCC’s structure, PASOM PASAN will focus on youth aged 15–25, offering educational and vocational training that complements the CCC’s programs for children aged 7–15. OBJECTIVES
Revitalize and preserve traditional Lao arts and handicrafts. Support young artists and artisans in developing professional skills. Create a space for artistic production, cultural learning, and youth exchange. Promote Lao culture through hands-on workshops, exhibitions, and performances. Training & Production
Covered workshops and creative spaces will be dedicated to teaching and producing traditional and contemporary crafts, including:
• Woodwork: Carving, sculpture, and basic furniture.
• Paper & Stencil Art: Saa (mulberry) paper craft and traditional stencil work.
• Metal, Cement, and Clay Work: Sculptural and decorative arts.
• Creative Open Space: For collaboration, experimentation, and group art projects. From Monday to Friday, afternoons are dedicated to affordable training and workshops for local youth aged 15–25, while mornings offer paid workshops for visitors and tourists, helping to ensure the project’s sustainability and foster cross-cultural exchange.
2. Presentation & Showcase
A core component of PASOM PASAN is the promotion and visibility of youth work:
• Exhibition & Marketplace: Rotating displays of youth-created crafts and artworks, with an integrated souvenir shop.
• Performance & Cultural Events: Space for showcasing live performance art, storytelling, traditional theatre, and movement-based arts.
3. Youth Community & Mentorship
The project will create a welcoming and inclusive environment where young people can:
• Gather informally, connect, and share ideas.
• Receive mentoring from local artists, handicraft masters, monks, and teachers involved in traditional Lao art forms.
• Build a network of peers engaged in creative, socially meaningful work. IMPACT & SUSTAINABILITY
PASOM PASAN aims to become a vibrant place for youth creativity and cultural preservation in Luang Prabang. Through its integrated model of training, production, and public engagement, the project will:
• Empower young Lao to develop their talents and earn a livelihood.
• Contribute to the safeguarding of Lao heritage.
• Offer meaningful experiences to visitors and strengthen cultural tourism.
• Foster community, dialogue, and pride among the next generation. By connecting tradition with innovation, PASOM PASAN will help ensure that Lao crafts and culture remain alive, relevant, and valued.
English:
MAKARA Is Now Open for New Students! , Wood Carving Training
After our first chapter with Sa paper... the next chapter is here 🔥
If you want to learn the art of wood carving from the basics all the way to creating your own work this is your opportunity ✨
📌 What you'll gain from the Workshop:
* Wood carving techniques from start to finish
* Creating new and distinctive products
* Business ideas
* New friendships and a closer connection to art
* Certificate of participation
⏰ Tuesday & Thursday: 16:00–18:00
⏰ Saturday: 9:30–11:30
🗓️ 3 days per week
📍 Ban Watnong , Luang Prabang 📞 02056497446
English:
One Month of MAKARA — Our First Chapter Has Come to a Close: Sa Paper Training 🌿
Time flies... but everything we built together over this one month will never fade away.
From the very first day when hands were still unfamiliar with Sa paper, to today where everyone creates with confidence — we witnessed the growth of our students every single day ✨
Students learned and created many things — from natural raw materials, through the papermaking process, all the way to transforming that paper into beautiful works of art such as handmade books of various kinds, lampshades, and more...
🎨 From simple raw materials to meaningful creations From those who had never tried, to those who now make with their own hands From local wisdom, to dreams that are beginning to take shape
Thank you to everyone who walked this journey with us every question, every smile, every piece of work is part of MAKARA 🙏
But this is far from the end 👀
🪵 Next Chapter: Wood Carving An art that demands patience, vision, and heart — we will be opening for new students very soon!
If you dream of creating with wood, with your own two hands, and with all your heart — this place is yours. Stay tuned — details will be announced soon!