November 21-23, 2007 Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU), Wang Noi Campus, Ayutthaya, Thailand

1. UNESCO “Cultural Survival and Revival in the Buddhist Sangha” ProjectEvaluation WorkshopCase Study on “Impacts” :LuangPrabang, Lao PDR November 21-23, 2007 Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU), Wang Noi Campus, Ayutthaya, Thailand

2. Project site background information • Location: Vat Xiengmouane, LuangPrabang, Lao PDR • Population of community served: 45.000 (only in LuangPrabang Town) • Main implementing partner: Department of Information and Culture LuangPrbang,BuddhistSangha • Fine Arts School • Other implementing partners: Vat Xiengmouane, local community Villagers • Number of Monks: 1030 (only in LuangPrabang Town) • Number of novices: 250 • Number of nuns: 35

3. Impacts from tourism on the community • Taking offerings is a holy cultural and spiritual tradition of LuangPrabang. • It is believed that this tradition has been passed down on from the ancestors to new generation. • The locals made this from their heart and this tradition also interests the tourists. • The number of tourists is increasing but of course the impact on people’s ways of life. • For example: • people from the other side of the Mekong river come to sell food to tourists which is not good quality; and • from ancient times when the monks passed a woman, the woman had to sit down and pray but now they often don’t respect this tradition.

4. Impacts from tourism on the community Vat Pahuak, located opposite the former Royal Palace, is a mixture between the styles of Lao and Lanna, but the decoration work was originally made in Lao style. The problems and threats to our cultural heritage is that the number of the toursits are increasing and some are interested in artifacts as you can see in the picture. The eaves brackets and fillets were stolen and probably sold to tourists or to collectors abroad. The Lao local government raises awareness to the local community and educate them to understand how to preserve and also works closely together with the site management. Hopefully this will help to resolve this problem in the future.

5. Impacts from tourism on the community The temples in Luang Prabang are full of Buddha images, are used by people for religious purposes, as places of worship and Buddhist ceremonies, for meditation and festivities. Currently many old Buddha images are being stolen because people offer a lot of money for them which makes the thieves forget about their own cultural heritage.

6. Impacts from tourism on the community Many people rent their houses to outsiders to run businesses and move and live out of the city. This affects the monks who rely on offerings from local people. Some local people also run businesses and do not have time to make merit. In addition, often local donors provide funding for the restoration of temples by using modern materials. Newcomers are not used to the traditional life styles which results in the monks not being able to collect enough food.

7. Impacts from tourism on traditional temple arts and crafts • Ingredients and materials are difficult to find and expensive. For example, buffalo skin, needed for traditional lime plaster, is hard to get because the numbers of buffalos in Luang Prabang has decreased rapidly due to the use of buffalo meat in restaurants. • Introduction of new materials and techniques for the construction of hotels. These new techniques are also replacing the traditional techniques for building a temple. • Loss of skills due to the high demand for quick and simple decorations for hotels and restaurants. No eye for details anymore.

8. Project strengths • After the training began, the monks knew the importance of the project and the need for revival of skills and traditions. • The number of the trainees is increasing day by day and also young lay persons attend training. • The trainees who left from monkshood can make their products and sellat the night market. Positive socio-economic impact! • Some have their own shop and some are hired to decorate the new temple in the remote areas. Positive social impact!

9. Project strengths We first had a difficulty in teaching and motivating the trainees to join the training, after the project was implemented over past three years. But this improved when members of the local community asked the monks to carve door panels for a new temple and other items such as Buddha images, etc. This is a first step of local contribution to the project and towards sustainability.

10. The project played a very important role in the revival of the Buddhist Sangha in Luang Prabang. The significance of the project was not only recognized by the local monks but there were also foreign monks interested in the training as you can see in the photo. Despite the good results so far it is very necessary for us to continue supporting the project. Although about 100 trainees have graduated from the training centre, there are still not sufficient artists for conservation work and temple maintenance. Also, among the graduates were many monks from other provinces.

11. Opportunities The project has produced a booklet on Temple Arts of Luang Prabang. Each of the 11 chapters describes step by step the production process of a particular craft. The crafts included in the booklet are the following: • Drawing of Traditional motifs • Mural painting • Lacquer appliqué • Gold leaf stencil design • Gilding • Glass mosaics • Lime or cement • Traditional stucco • Reinforced lime plaster • Wood carving • Bronze casting

12. Opportunities Besides that this booklet can be used in the training, it can also be sold to visitors generating income to sustain the training center. In addition to the booklet we have also made postcards with photographs of important mural paintings in Luang Prabang. The proceeds from the sales of these postcards contribute towards sustaining the Training Center as well and raises awareness about the need to conserve these important paintings.

13. Opportunities One other important outcome of the project is that the activities have been replicated in three other sites in Lao PDR, namely: Bokeo, Savannakhet and Champasak. The Center in Luang Prabang has mentored the these additional sites by sending mobline training team to assist the sites with setting up training and by training trainers from these sites at the Center in Luang Prabang.

14. Thank you