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The Royal Folk Arts And Crafts Center Mae Hong Son

The Royal Folk Arts And Crafts Center Mae Hong Son

Mae Hong Son Folk Arts & Crafts Center Mae Hong Son Folk Arts & Crafts Center is located near Mae Hong Son City Hall on Khunlum Prapat Road, Muang District, Mae Hong Son Province. The center was established in 1985 under the royal patronage of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. Her Majesty the Queen intended to generate knowledge in arts and crafts to poor villagers so that they can have a second job and earn extra income. The center provides training and offers job opportunities to Thai population living both on plains and in mountain areas. Trainings include rattan and bamboo weaving, carving, indigenous doll cloth sewing, artificial flower making, leatherwork and silverware making. Mae Hong Son Folk Arts & Crafts Center is a three-story building. The ground floor has an area selling products which were produced by the center and other arts and crafts centers, such as indigenous dolls, textiles, basketwork, souvenirs and other products made from local materials. The second floor is comprised of the royal studio, an exhibition in contribution to Her Majesty the Queen, and the office of the committee working for Mae Hong Son development project under her royal initiation. The third floor is an exhibition of six hill tribes in Thailand, which are Lisu, Lahu, Mong, Lua, Shan and Karen. The exhibition includes displays of tribal arts and cultures, such as their ways of life, costumes and daily equipment. There are also reproductions of the six tribal houses. Membership is available for those who want to join arts and crafts trainings. The center has both temporary and permanent members. Once completed the trainings, temporary members will earn their living from domestic art and craft jobs, while permanent members are skilled craftpeople hired by the center. These artisans will work on products for sale in the market and carry on the center’s work by providing trainings for future members. For more information, contact the office of royal development project collaboration, Mae Hong Son Province (Tel: 053-611244), or Mae Hong Son tourist information center, Tourism Authority of Thailand (Tel: 053-612982)