Standing at the crossroads of mainland South East Asia, Laos was for some 350 years the heartland of the powerful and prosperous kingdom of Lane Xang (1353-1695). Following its subsequent disintegration into the three kingdoms of Luang Prabang, Vientiane and Champassak, the Lao territories increasingly became an arena for wider conflicts between more powerful neighbours.

United and at peace since 1975, modern Laos remains a poor country, but economic reform coupled with the growth of new sources of income such as tourism and hydroelectric power are steadily improving the daily life of its citizens.

In the cultural field, Laos is known principally for its exquisite woven and embroidered textiles, though it also preserves a rich tradition of classical (courtly) and folk performance. One of Asia’s most ethnically diverse countries, Laos offers a range of hitherto untapped opportunities for reciprocal cultural interaction and exchange.

The Laos Cultural Profile represents the first major attempt to map the cultural infrastructure of this fascinating and hitherto poorly-documented country. It offers a detailed sector-by-sector guide to Archives, Competitions and awards, Cultural funding, Cultural policy and infrastructure, Cultural research, Cultural training, Ethnic culture, Festivals, Film, Heritage, International cultural exchange, Libraries, Literature, Mass culture, Media (Broadcasting, Press, Publishing, Internet), Performing arts, Tourism, Visual arts and Youth arts. Each sectoral overview concludes with a detailed directory of key contact organisations, making it possible for the reader not only to learn about what is happening in a particular cultural sector, but also to make direct contact with the key people working in it.

A collaborative project between Visiting Arts and the Ministry of Information and Culture of Laos, the Laos Cultural Profile is one of three new online cultural guides to the countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) - see also the Việt Nam Cultural Profile and the Cambodia Cultural Profile. All three have been created with financial support from the Rockefeller Foundation.

Targeted at cultural professionals, yet packed full of information and images which will be of interest to the cultural tourist, the Laos Cultural Profile forms part of a new and highly authoritative global source of web intelligence.

The Laos Cultural Profile is updated regularly; please contact us to add or amend your details by E-mailing Tim Doling at tim.doling@culturalprofiles.net