The UNESCO International Training Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (CRIHAP), in collaboration with the Heritage Department of Laos's Ministry of Culture and Tourism and with support from Chengdu Vocational University of the Arts, will host the "Capacity-Building Workshop on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage for Lao PDR (Second Session)" from December 1 to 5, 2025. This workshop will welcome participants from various departments within the Lao Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Building on the success of the first workshop held in 2024, this session aims to further strengthen exchanges and practical collaboration between the two countries in the field of intangible cultural heritage (ICH). The workshop will concentrate on developing safeguarding plans, employing a blend of systematic instruction and real-world case studies. The objective is to empower participants with the necessary skills to formulate effective safeguarding plans, thus enhancing the consistency and practical impact of ICH preservation efforts in Laos.

Over five days, UNESCO-certified facilitators Deirdre Prins-Solani and Nandadeva Bilinda Devage will lead the training. Their curriculum will encompass core concepts and ethical principles of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, methodologies for crafting safeguarding plans, strategies for community engagement, and the connections between ICH and the Sustainable Development Goals. The training will integrate theoretical knowledge with interactive formats, including case studies and practical exercises. A field visit to Qingshen County is also scheduled, allowing participants to observe a local bamboo weaving ICH project and engage with national-level inheritors of the craft. Through this integration of theory and practice, and under the guidance of experts, attendees will collaborate in groups to draft safeguarding plans for specific ICH elements in Laos, an exercise expected to significantly enhance their professional capacity in this vital field.