On August 24, 2026, the "Capacity-Building Workshop on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage for Lao PDR (Third Session)," jointly organized by the International Training Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (hereinafter referred to as the "CRIHAP") and the Department of Heritage and Fine Arts of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Lao PDR, was successfully opened in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. Twenty-six officials from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Lao PDR and the Department of Arts of Luang Prabang Province participated in the workshop.

Mr. Phouheuang Souvannalath, Deputy Director General of the Department of Heritage and Fine Arts of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Lao PDR, and Mr. Sengthong Lueyang, Deputy Director of the Department of Arts of Luang Prabang Province, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Mr. Phouheuang Souvannalath stated that intangible cultural heritage is of great significance to cultural diversity and sustainable development, and encouraged participants to carry out intangible cultural heritage safeguarding efforts in a sustainable manner and in line with the national conditions of Lao PDR. He expressed the hope that during this workshop, participants would effectively combine intangible cultural heritage safeguarding with raising awareness, documentation and research, and enhanced consciousness, and looked forward to using the training opportunities provided by this workshop to cultivate more talents for the development of Lao PDR's intangible cultural heritage cause.

This workshop is the third session of the Three-Year Training Programme for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage for Lao PDR, co-organized by CRIHAP and the Department of Heritage and Fine Arts of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Lao PDR. Building on the learning from the previous two sessions, this session is themed "Writing a Practical Master Plan for the Safeguarding of ICH: A Case Study of Luang Prabang." The workshop adopts a practice-oriented and results-based training model, providing systematic explanations of the core concepts of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the methods and steps for formulating a master plan. Combined with local intangible cultural heritage resources in Luang Prabang, facilitators will lead participants in group discussions and case studies, aiming to help participants transform theoretical knowledge into practical ability and effectively enhance the relevance and operability of efforts in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.

This training is facilitated by UNESCO facilitators Ms. Linina Phuttitarn and Mr. Nandadeva Bilinda Devage. During the five-day training, the two facilitators will systematically guide participants in mastering the methods for formulating a master plan through various formats such as thematic lectures, group discussions, and case studies. During the training, participants will also conduct field visits to the local puppetry community in Luang Prabang, carry out interviews and research with bearers, gain an in-depth understanding of the current situation of living heritage transmission in the community, accumulate first-hand materials for the formulation of the master plan, and complete the drafting of the framework and draft of the master plan under the guidance of facilitators.